China to expand family doctor services by yearend

All physicians must serve as family doctors by the end of 2026.

China has issued new measures to improve and expand family doctor contract services working in primary-level healthcare institutions, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

Citing a government-issued document, the report said all physicians in internal medicine, paediatrics, and traditional Chinese medicine must serve as family doctors and provide contract services by the end of 2026.

By the end of 2027, doctors from secondary and tertiary hospitals who have been assigned to primary healthcare institutions for more than a year should also participate in such services.

The circular also pushes for a family doctor system, where residents who sign up get priority access to consultations with their assigned doctor at local clinics.

If a case is beyond a family doctor's expertise, they should first refer the patient to a specialist at the same clinic, with the patient's consent.

Moreover, if a higher-level hospital is needed, family doctors should use reserved appointments, hospital beds, and fast-track referral channels through partner hospital networks to ensure patients receive prompt care.

The circular also calls for expanding family doctor services from chronic disease management to the coordinated management of both chronic and infectious diseases.

Further, family doctors are expected to provide health education, referral services, follow-up management and vaccination-related services for common respiratory, digestive and vector-borne diseases.