Doctors urged to provide more help

In a bid to improve the nation's health, the National Health and Family Planning Commission has instructed doctors to ascertain if their patients have a history of smoking and to offer services designed to help smokers to kick the habit.

In a circular issued in February, the commission said that doctors who offer initial diagnoses should ask if the patient smokes, and offer at least brief intervention to help them quit.

Other doctors should also master skills to help patients quit smoking.