Zhanjiang's development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was high on the agenda during Zhanjiang Mayor Wang Zhongbing's tour of the city's TCM hospitals and institutes on Dec 21.

Wang first visited the Zhanjiang First Hospital of TCM, which is one of Zhanjiang's two third-grade class A TCM hospitals. The hospitals of top grade in China's 3-tier system has more than 500 beds with responsbility for providing specialist health services, closer relations with medical education and scientific research. Class A tops its subsidary three levels. Zhanjiang is the only city boasting two third-grade class A TCM hospitals in Guangdong province.

Zhanjiang Mayor Wang Zhongbing inspects the systems of management, talent cultivation and assessment at the Zhanjiang First Hospital of TCM on Dec 21.[Photo/zhanjiang.gov.cn]

At the hospital, Wang inspected the systems of management, talent cultivation and assessment. He urged that the development of A Level TCM hospitals should be given priority. More emphasis should be put toward developing greater competency on curing difficult diseases, as well as the preventive treatment of disease.

Wang then toured the public health center in Longtou village of the Potou district. The center has been developing advantages in surgery, gynecology and obstetrics since the standardized construction of institutes of health in villages and towns was initiated in 2014. Wang encouraged continuous innovation and service improvement, and he called for a model role for other health centers in the city's villages and towns.

Wang discusses with hospital delegates how to develop a system to cultivate and inspire more doctors of great medical skill at a meeting during his tour of Zhanjiang's TCM hospitals. [Photo/Zhanjiang.gov.cn]

Over the discussion, Wang suggested a mature talent cultivation system to develop and inspire doctors of great medical skill. A management system aimed at taking in practitioners of TCM popular among public is an urgent necessity.

TCM schools in Zhanjiang were encouraged to cooperate with hospitals to complement each other with advantages.

Zhanjiang Mayor Wang Zhongbing calls for more effort in building a city of improved sanitation. [Photo/Zhanjiang.gov.cn]

So far, Zhanjiang has 437 TCM institutes and 15 TCM clinics. Among all specialized departments, one is at the national level, and 10 are of provincial level.