A key focus of China's healthcare sector this year is to mobilize senior medical professionals in urban areas to the grassroots level and strengthen support for primary health clinics, the National Health Commission said during a news conference on Wednesday.

Mi Feng, spokesman of the commission, said that over the years, China has been continuously channeling quality medical resources to grassroots facilities, improving their infrastructure and services and enhancing the training of local healthcare workers.

In 2023, the proportion of medical visits at primary healthcare institutions nationwide reached 52 percent, he said during a news conference held in Xichang in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

Mi said that this year, the commission will focus on mobilizing medical personnel to grassroots institutions, stepping up coordination of healthcare facilities in rural areas and promoting urban hospitals to support lower-level facilities.

As part of efforts to push forward grassroots healthcare, the commission has since 2018 called on renowned medical professionals to offer volunteer services to less developed regions.

In February of last year, a volunteer service corps was officially launched by the commission.

Mi said that several squads have been established over the years, such as a team dedicated to preventing myopia among children and teenagers and a group focusing on spreading awareness. Local authorities have also launched their regional volunteer corps.

Zhou Fude, a kidney disease specialist from Peking University First Hospital, has participated in 13 volunteer events organized by the commission.