Residents of Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province are now able to fix their appointments to consult First People's Hospital doctors through WeChat. The registration for treatments is also being done in same manner.

Launched on July 22, the online registration service allows people to sign up to the hospital's WeChat account, make appointment and register for treatment -- all with their smart phones.

A resident surnamed Xu said, "My 60-year-old father often comes to the hospital for doctors and we used to wait for registration in long queues. The new service enables us to register at home and see the doctor on time, saving us much time."

The streamlined registration procedure also alleviates the hospital's pressure. "People can make an appointment at home, so there will be fewer people crowding in the waiting hall," said Chen Hui, the vice director of the hospital's information department.

"In the future we'll launch a mobile APP to help patients check their medical examination reports," Chen added.

He also pointed out that the hospital made the network information security a priority as they have purchased quality server and GAP, which will ensure the safe operation of WeChat and prevent patients from information disclosure.

Tencent's WeChat is China's most popular mobile messaging app that has become a pervasive part of people's daily lives. With its widespread scale across China, WeChat has become very effective at making day to day life easier.

Edited by Shahnawaz Akhtar