Internet hospital to empower doctors, patients in Xiamen

An internet hospital is set to inaugurate online services at The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University on July 4, local media reported.

A group of 558 doctors from the departments of pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and dermatology at the internet hospital have been offering online medical services during trials since April. Over 400,000 patients have obtained free online health consultations.

The updated online outpatient service system is expected to help patients to receive medical services such as further consultations, e-prescriptions and remote fetal monitoring after the official launch of operations.

An app is available for local residents to get access to the online medical services which will be charged equally off line.

Wang Zhanxiang, the director of the hospital, said that the internet hospital is designed to mainly serve subsequent needs by patients with common and chronic diseases.

He added that primary-care patients and patients whose conditions are not yet diagnosed or have changed are required to pay an in-person visit to the hospital.