China will conduct a pilot program to implement and promote new standards for internet-based GP services.
The said program, announced at a meeting with general practitioners led by the Chinese Medical Association, will be developed in collaboration with major hospitals and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
While no details are given about the standards mentioned, they will reportedly be modeled on those developed by Chinese insurer Ping An for its online GP service, Ping An Family Doctor.
The AI-powered service, developed by the company’s health technology unit Ping An Health, virtually connects patients with general practitioners – certified by the World Organization of General Practitioners – for medical consultations. It also facilitates referrals, bookings for hospital appointments, nursing care and post-discharge follow-ups.
The Ping An Family Doctor platform also provides access to EHRs, enables medical report uploading and generates AI-driven personalized health plans. It integrates with smart medical devices and provides near real-time alerts for urgent health issues.
The membership-based service, launched in 2022, now has nearly 13 million registered users.
The state-wide standards for providing online GP services will be published on the platform of the Standardization Administration of China (an agency under the State Administration for Market Regulation) by the end of the year, Ping An shared in a press release.
THE GREATER CONTEXT
The general practitioner system was introduced as part of health reforms when establishing primary care centers in China in 2019. Two years later, it became a national strategy to establish the general practitioner system. Contract services for GPs were piloted in rural areas in 2013 before being rolled out nationally in 2016. The Chinese government is promoting the general practitioner service to make high-quality primary care more accessible to the general population and to help relieve hospitals. These services were previously only available to large hospitals, which were also experiencing overwhelming admissions.
In China, contract services for general practitioners consist of three packages: a free basic health care package, a basic package with personalization options, and an integrated medical treatment and nursing care package.
In recent years, there have been challenges in promoting these contractual services, despite helping bridge access to quality care. In particular, people are still hesitant to sign up for the service. A study suggested increasing health insurance reimbursements, reducing patients’ out-of-pocket expenses, and providing patient discounts as ways to address people’s reluctance.