Beijing's municipal government plans to invest 520 million yuan
(US$62.8 million) this year to improve eight general hospitals, and
five will set up branches in outlying residential areas, according
to the local Star Daily on Tuesday.
"Beijing should build less shopping centers and more hospitals,"
Deputy Ma Yanjun told the city's People's Congress session in
January.
He submitted a proposal pointing out that business facilities
have been developing rapidly, far surpassing the purchasing power
of residents, and some shopping centers have even been left unused,
wasting resources. However, medical facilities can't satisfy demand
in either quantity or quality, and many citizens have difficulties
seeing a doctor or getting into hospital.
The Beijing Municipal Commission of Reform and Development
(BMCRD) responded to Ma's proposal at the beginning of June, saying
the development of large commercial facilities is being limited.
Such construction will be adjusted through planning, and government
will no longer fund it.
On June 6, the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau recognized that
the current configuration of services results in inadequacy and
wastefulness. There aren't enough general medical facilities for
everyone in the capital, but there is a surplus of specialist
centers. They aim for there to be one general hospital for every
400,000-500,000 people by 2020.
The BMCRD, in response to the municipal government, is
increasing this year's investment in building medical facilities to
520 million yuan (US$62.8 million), up 63 percent on last year. The
investment structure will favor the city's suburbs.
Key projects include the first phase of renovation and
enlargement of You'an Hospital, relocation of Ditan Hospital, first
phase of renovation of Chaoyang Hospital, refurbishment of the
Beijing Chemical Poisoning and Nuclear Radiation Treatment Center
and the emergency center of the Beijing Children's Hospital, and
renovation and extension of Beijing Hospital's cadre health care
center, Anding Hospital's outpatient ward building and Xuanwu
Hospital.
More funds will be invested in refurbishing and building 1,486
medicare stations and offices in communities and villages, 412
communicable disease consulting rooms, 67 communicable disease
clinics, 61 isolation rooms, 16 first aid stations in remote towns
and 136 on the city's outskirts, and 37 township and county
hospitals in mountainous regions.
To improve the access of outlying communities, five large
general hospitals will build branches this year not only in the
suburbs, but also in newly-established districts, large communities
and areas joining town and country.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, June 12, 2005)