Hospitals in Shanghai will be painted in different colors in different departments and wards rather than in the plain white they are in right now.

Medical officials disclosed how the city plans to build a group of Asian class-comprehensive hospitals and specialized medical facilities in five years, all painted with colors beneficial to medical treatment.

For example, pink and warm shades will be used for obstetrics departments, colorful cartoons will be applied to the walls of pediatric wards and cold shades such as light blue will be adopted for emergency departments to avoid distracting doctors from their work.

The new color scheme is being used in the nearly completed Shanghai Public Health Center as well as Huashan, Zhongshan and Ruijin hospitals on a trial basis.

Psychologists point out that white is not always comfortable for patients, particularly those are seriously sick, as it may suggest a hint of desperation.

(CRI.com June 26, 2004)