Shanghai aims to develop into major medical hub in Asia

The Shanghai government introduced a guideline on July 24 to improve the quality of its health care service industry and develop itself into the epicenter for medical innovation in Asia.

The city plans to invest 1.29 billion yuan ($186.97 million) from 2018 to 2020 to build up numerous medical disciplines including general surgery, neurology, cardiology, gynecology and obstetrics, spine surgery, hand surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and clinical pharmacy.

The guideline encourages the building of a batch of international and high-quality non-public medical institutions such as privately-funded medical groups, clinics with various specialties, and third-party institutions specializing in medical tests, pathological diagnosis, and medical imaging.

Top medical institutions are being encouraged to serve as training bases for medical students and doctors.

The city is also using the latest information technology to improve its health care services and to strengthen health care supervision.

Additionally, medical institutions and physicians will be punished for their malpractice, and those with a bad name and zero credibility will be put on a blacklist and be potentially shut down.

By 2020, the number of Shanghai's health supervisors is expected to reach 75 for every 1 million residents, and related supervision facilities will be improved.

Shanghai authorities introduce a guideline to improve the quality of the city's health care service industry and develop itself into an epicenter for medical innovation for Asia on July 24. [Photo/chinanews.com]