By 2017, more than 30 percent of the entire population, including over 60 percent of the priority groups, will be able to enjoy contractual services from family doctors, according to the guideline.[Photo/Xinhua]

THE GAP BETWEEN THE supply and demand of family doctors in China hasn't been narrowed in the past years. Beijing News commented on Monday:

The current comprehensive promotion of the family doctor system is not mature, and a better approach is needed to make a breakthrough.

According to reports, Beijing has promoted the family doctor service since 2011. But six years later, although the number of families that have signed with doctors in their communities has reached 33 percent, the reality is many of their health records have been gathering dust, which means the family doctor system itself is gathering dust.

In 2009, reforms were introduced that clearly put forward the family doctor system to provide community health services. But while the government's attitude has been clear, the actual effect is less obvious.

First, most people hold the view of only visiting a good doctor in case of a serious illness, leaving little room for a family doctor. Second, there are no incentives for doctors to work as family doctors.

To this end, the country may wish to look at the general practitioners who carry out such work in the United Kingdom, where people must first use their GP at the local clinic unless it is an emergency.

The public hospitals should interact with family doctors, so that family doctors can truly participate in the basic aspects of patient treatment.