Ningbo, Zhejiang and Nottingham, UK plan to jointly cultivate hundreds of general practitioners (GPs), local media reported.

An exchange program, initiated in September 2017 by the University of Nottingham, University of Nottingham Ningbo Campus (UNNC) and Ningbo First Hospital, may improve China's medical care by identifying weaknesses in the Chinese GP training system and drawing on the successes experienced by the UK.

The program has recently entered into an approval process.

The UK has the world's best training system for GPs, while Nottingham is one of the top three training centers in the country. The University of Nottingham plays an active role in medical education and training in the East Midlands, giving it plenty of experience in this sector.

Over the past half year, Ningbo First Hospital has sent two practitioners to Nottingham to learn from the UK's GP system. In addition, a team from UNNC thoroughly investigated the overall state of Ningbo's medical service centers at all levels, as well as the challenges they face, and obtained first-hand materials and data.

Based on these data, a feasible training plan in accordance with China's development trajectory was formulated.

"The hospital and the university are now discussing a long-term training system," said Ying Jun, a project manager from UNNC's Research and Business Department.

The two parties hope to help Ningbo become an influential GP training center in the Yangtze River Delta region by introducing a team of British professionals, according to Ying.

Huang Kai, a GP from Ningbo First Hospital said, "This exchange program is of great significance to both countries, enabling young practitioners to learn from each other and deepen their understanding of the GP systems in China and the UK."

"The exchange program is just the beginning of GP cooperation between Ningbo and Nottingham," said Ruan Liemin, president of Ningbo First Hospital. She hoped that in the future, the program could reach out to more young GPs from both counties.