BEIJING, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- China's Health Ministry said Monday it would send up to 10,000 doctors from its cities to improve rural care and facilities, starting in June.
Nearly 80 percent of China's 900 million people living in rural areas do not have access to adequate health care. In response to the problem, officials have launched a cooperative medical care system and established mobile medical teams.
The "Ten Thousand Doctors Assisting Rural Medical Care" project was unveiled at a national health conference that began Monday in Beijing. The project will be jointly funded by the central and local governments, according to a report from Xinhua news agency.
Vice Minister of Health Gao Qiang was quoted saying the project will focus on providing timely, inexpensive and convenient medical care and treatment to rural residents as well as improve hospital facilities in the countryside.
In June 2005 about 600 county-level hospitals in China's underdeveloped central and western regions will receive medical personnel from city hospitals. Besides treating patients, doctors will train local medical staff plus give advice on hospital management.
