People in Shanghai are increasingly health conscious and seeking basic health examinations and checkups, so the government is checking up on facilities.

They are surveying standards and whether sick patients in clinics and hospitals are separated from those just seeking physical exams - to prevent infection.

The Ministry of Health and the Chinese Doctors Association are launching a nationwide spot check on access to facilities providing physical examinations, the association said yesterday.

A forum on the status of health checks and tendency toward increasing exams will be held in the city between December 2 and 4. Officials from the ministry, local health administration, medical experts and industry experts will participate.

The forum will give suggestions to authorities to work out health check guidelines. In addition, how to scientifically and professionally manage people's health database and provide further service and follow-through after checks will be discussed.

Health checks are popular in the country, especially in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

As more people are aware of health protection, companies and children buy pre-paid coupons for health checks as gifts for employees and parents.

An ordinary health examination in major cities costs about 400 yuan (US$49) to 500 yuan, a profitable business.

Currently, there are about 30 privately owned physical examination facilities in the city, and all district- and city-based hospitals have such services.

(Shanghai Daily November 22, 2005)