Partnerships planned for medical institutes

Medical partnerships will be promoted across China by 2020 to provide patients with more sustainable and efficient healthcare services, according to a central government guideline to be released.

Medical partnerships, which promote effective cooperation and coordination between different types of medical institutes, play a very important role in establishing a tiered medical care system, which is key to the success of China's ongoing healthcare reform, Wang Hesheng, deputy director of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, China's top health authority, said on Friday.

All major public hospitals in China must participate and take a leading role in the development of medical partnerships by the end of this year, according to the guideline, which has been approved by the State Council and will be released soon, he said.