Funding from a range of sources will be channeled into specialist medical centers to improve health research in the Shanghai, according to the local health bureau.

"The total investment for the first-stage establishment of the medical centers is expected to reach 1 billion yuan (US$120.6 million)," said Liu Jun, director of the city's health bureau.

"The investment exceeds the total spent on clinical medical research in the last 10 years," Liu added.

Half the investment will come from the city's finance bureau, the other half will come from hospitals.

"Hospitals can collect capital from private sources," said Zhang Kan, an official with the health bureau. "Foreign investment is being considered."

Shanghai has about 30 key medical specialties, some of which are world-leading, such as ones relating to liver and kidney research.

In the next five years, about 15 to 20 key clinical centers will be set up.

"Shanghai takes the lead in much medical research. But because of a lack of capital and efficient management, they have not developed enough to face competition from abroad," said Zhang.

Therefore, a concentration of resources is needed to support them, according to Zhang.

The centers will use facilities and doctors from a number of hospitals in Shanghai.

The centers will be headed by top researchers. For example, Chen Zhu, an expert in the human genome and blood research, is expected to head one key medical center at Ruijin Hospital.

"Foreign experts are also welcome to join the research centers," Zhang said.

Experts believe that such medical centers will upgrade the structure of local hospitals and lead to more medical professionals.

The first five medical centers will be decided upon soon and work will begin on them this year, insiders said.

(People's Daily 05/24/2001)