China Boosts Grassroots Healthcare Access

China is accelerating the rollout of a nationwide tiered diagnosis and treatment system, a move designed to decongest major urban medical centers and bring high-quality healthcare closer to residents. Released in April by the State Council, the guideline emphasizes directing patients with common illnesses to primary-level facilities while reserving higher-level hospitals for severe conditions.

This strategic shift aims to make healthcare more accessible and alleviate financial and time burdens for patients. With over 1.1 million medical institutions, most residents can reach a provider within 15 minutes. Primary healthcare institutions have seen significant patient visits, accounting for over half of the national total last year.

The system is evolving from a basic framework to a focus on quality and efficiency. Secondary hospitals will bolster common disease treatment and expand rehabilitation services. Tertiary hospitals will concentrate on critical illnesses and referred patients, while scaling back routine outpatient services for common and chronic conditions.

Partnerships between higher and lower-level hospitals are being upgraded, including resource-sharing centers for imaging, testing, and drug supply. To encourage initial consultations at the primary level, higher-level hospitals will establish outpatient clinics at grassroots institutions within their consortia. Specialist and expert clinics will also extend to primary care settings.

Shouguang city in Shandong province exemplifies this, with a high percentage of residents seeking treatment locally and a majority of services delivered at the grassroots level. Initiatives there focus on convenience for chronic disease patients and people with disabilities, offering services like medication dispensing and monitoring at the village level.

Further improvements are planned through digital solutions, including AI-assisted diagnostics and smart prescription reviews. The establishment of grassroots chronic disease management centers will provide integrated services from prevention to rehabilitation.