About half of the households in this southern city will enjoy easy access to family doctors by 2015 after the full implementation of a new healthcare system.

As a part of the new medical reform, which aims to provide quality and inexpensive medical services, Shenzhen Health Bureau officials decided to launch a trial operation of a family doctor system in September.

"The new system would provide consistent and reachable healthcare service to the families, which could be an important way to change the current working model of doctors and improve the relationship between the doctors and patients," according to a document from the bureau.

The plan calls for two to three community healthcare centers in each of the six districts of Shenzhen to be selected to carry out the trial operation. They will set up at least two service teams in a community, including a family doctor, a nurse and a doctor of public health. Each service team would serve no more than 800 families.

Under the new plan, staff in the community healthcare centers would help the local residents choose their own family doctors, register and select personalized services and sign contracts with the doctors.

With online or phone reservations, residents then could enjoy the service of their designated family doctor at the community healthcare centers.

The official figures show that 634 community healthcare centers had been set up by the end of last year, which allowed residents in every corner of the city to see a doctor in no more than a 15-minute walk.

For some special cases, including pregnant women, the elderly, the disabled and patients with chronic diseases, family doctors could treat them at home.

Besides medical services, family doctors will also give advice on maintaining good health, according the new plan.

The plan has received mixed responses from the community.

Chen Nongyao, a 45-year-old resident in Bao'an District, said the plan sounds good, especially for the elderly.

"Sometimes the diseases are not that serious, and we don't have to go to the hospital directly. It is very convenient for the elderly or those with a physical disability."

Ji Ziliang, a junior medical student in Sun Yat-sen University, showed his concern about the quantity of the family doctors.

"It is definitely beneficial to the citizens if this project could be carried out. Although each team is responsible for less than 800 families, it's still a tough task for them. I wonder if there are enough doctors for all the families in Shenzhen."

(China Daily August 12, 2009)