Community Health Care Reform and General Practice Training in China - Lessons Learned

Vast changes have occurred in China in the last five years since the decision of the Chinese Government to reform its health system. Many district and community hospitals in the city have been converted into community health centers. The hospital-based doctors who used to work in these centers are being retrained to become general practitioners (GPs). The reform had encountered many problems. The community has not embraced the concept of general practice readily. Lack of fair remuneration and lack of recognition of the importance of the reform by bureaucrats of local government are other problems encountered. The Ministry of Health meanwhile has also introduced a system of retraining hospital-based doctors to become GPs. A medical education curriculum for GPs has been developed. A nationwide network of GP training centers is progressively being formed. The GP training program has also extended to undergraduate medical students. Despite the progress made, many difficulties remained especially in regional areas. The speed and quality of GP training in wealthy, developed places is better than poorer regional areas. The issuing of national license and registration examinations for GPs has not been synchronized with GP training, leading to uneven standard of GP practice. Staff morale is also poor due to the lack of chance for promotion and professional development. Although a number of strategies have been proposed to improve the situation, problems are enormous that China may welcome international collaboration.