Rational approach seeking medical treatment urged

The National Health and Family Planning Commission has launched a campaign to raise public awareness in scientific and rational approach while seeking medical treatment.

The key message is tiered medical care services, according to Gao Haipeng, deputy director of China-Japan Friendship Hospital.

Currently, "people go to crowed large hospitals even for minor diseases like common cold, which is not necessary at all," he said at the launch event Friday.

Community level healthcare centers are competent to deal with most common diseases and would refer those suffering serious conditions to large hospitals, he noted.

Tao Maoxuan, who heads the National Health Education Center under the commission said China has been trying to bring up more general practitioners for community level clinics and enhance their capacity to provide quality medical care as well.

shanjuan@chinadaily.com.cn