Medical access improved for people in Peng'an county

Medical staff of the community health service center in South Peng'an host a free clinic for residents. [PHOTO BY WANG ZEMIN / FOR CHINA DAILY]

Residents in Peng'an county of Nanchong, Southwest China's Sichuan province, can now easily receive medical treatment at their doorstep thanks to the county's efforts to improve its medical infrastructure and services.

In recent years, Peng'an county has prioritized public health with a focus on people's needs. The county has worked to remove obstacles and difficulties that hinder people's access to medical treatment and established a better-quality and more efficient medical and health security system.

Currently, Peng'an is constructing an infectious disease hospital in a bid to ensure comprehensive public healthcare.

"The project has completed 70 percent of the total engineering work," said a manager of the construction team. The infectious disease hospital, which is to cover an area of 2 hectares and will be the first of its kind in Nanchong, is expected to enhance the county's capacity to respond to outbreaks after completion.

Centering on the "Healthy Peng'an" initiative, the county has adhered to improving its medical and health services by addressing the needs and resources based on the concerns of the public over the past few years.

Efforts have been made to accelerate the pace of several medical projects such as the expansion of its traditional Chinese medicine hospital, the construction of the infectious disease hospital and the development of a community hospital.

With a focus on improving medical care, the county has gained a reputation for its regional medical center, which includes three remote centers for electrocardiography, medical imaging and laboratory testing, providing greater convenience to the public.

Additionally, it has established five specialized treatment centers for chest pain, strokes and critical pediatric and neonatal care, enhancing the capacity to treat severe and life-threatening conditions.

Apart from infrastructure construction, Peng'an has been dedicated to taking the lead in improving medical services. It has built 15 key clinical specialties at the provincial and municipal levels, and six at the county level, and has taken significant steps to promote the development of smart hospitals.

Moreover, the county has established a remote application system integrating 5G technology, enabling remote healthcare services including consultations, diagnostics, training and video conferences.

Medical workers measure the blood pressure of an elderly woman in Peng'an. [PHOTO BY WANG ZEMIN / FOR CHINA DAILY]

The county has decentralized quality medical resources into local communities, as part of its effort to enhance the capability and accessibility of primary healthcare services for all.

Official data show that in Peng'an, 1,275 medical professionals have formed 164 family doctor teams to provide contract-based medical services, with stable relationships established with individuals. These teams offer in-person services, physician contract services, medical care guarantees and health follow-ups for specific groups. For individuals who have mobility issues, the team provides telephone consultations, house calls, home care and family rehabilitation guidance.

"Our center has organized two family doctor service teams to conduct free health checkups for the elderly and other at-risk individuals in each village and community within our jurisdiction. By visiting villages, residential areas and nursing homes, our services are delivered directly to the people, right at their doorstep," said an official at the community health service center in South Peng'an.

To provide convenient and high-quality medical services, the county has been deepening healthcare reforms by establishing close-knit county-level medical communities supported by clinical specialty departments of the county-level hospital as well as multiple clinical technical support centers. The grassroots medical institutions have also received guidance on establishing joint wards and outpatient services. In addition, the county has planned to construct six county-level medical centers, creating a "15-minute health service circle" to meet the medical needs of the public.

With concerted efforts made to improve medical services, the county has taken steps to strengthen medical personnel by expanding channels for talent introduction.

For example, the county has launched projects such as the "Xiangru talent" program and the targeted placement of medical undergraduates to introduce professionals at various levels.

As well, it has established a talent platform to coordinate and nurture medical professionals. Flexible talent introductions have been adopted that leverage high-quality resources from higher-level institutions to offer technical guidance, fill talent gaps and enhance talent training programs through targeted cooperation.