Measures taken to retain rural doctors

Fengshan county in Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has been taking measures to retain rural doctors at its villages in recent years.

From July, the basic salary for a rural doctor has been increased from 300 yuan ($42.41) per month in 2018 to 1,000 yuan per month. A 6 yuan subsidy will be given to doctors when a villager who purchased medical insurance visits them.

Village doctors who are responsible for the promotion of AIDS prevention knowledge in the countryside can achieve a subsidy of 300 yuan per month. Rural doctors who are aged 60 and over that still serve villagers can get old-age living allowances.

In addition, village clinics that implement the national essential drugs system will be provided an allowance that is 15 percent of the total sales of essential drugs sold at zero markup.

"The implementation of these measures ensure that the monthly income of rural doctors exceed 2,000 yuan," said Ban Malong, deputy director of the county's health bureau. "These measures play a significant role in retaining village doctors and training rural health talents."

Huang Aimiao, a rural doctor at the county's Jiuwen village, now has a monthly income of more than 2,500 yuan. She noted that she can settle down to do a good job in providing health services with a guaranteed income.

At present, the signing rate of family doctors in Jiuwen village has reached more than 80 percent, and the signing rate of registered impoverished households is 100 percent.

The county also invested more than 10 million yuan to renovate the 94 village clinics in the county to improve the rural doctors' working environment. The clinics were also equipped with computers and printers.