North China's Shanxi province has been enhancing its grassroots healthcare services, significantly improving the capabilities of county-level hospitals and enabling more county residents to benefit from the high-quality development of the healthcare sector.

Shanxi has implemented a three-year action plan to improve the comprehensive capabilities of county-level medical institutions, aiming to establish one or two high-standard hospitals in every county. Over 3,000 mid-level and senior medical professionals from 46 provincial and municipal tertiary hospitals have been dispatched to 171 county-level medical institutions, fostering significant improvements in their service level.

Over the past year, Shanxi has advanced county-level medical and health services integration, with 85.5 percent of counties adopting a total budget payment system for medical insurance and 15 counties piloting capitation payments for medical insurance funds. Service coverage rates for urban and rural residents and key populations have remained stable at over 60 percent and 80 percent, respectively.

All administrative village clinics now offer services from village doctors and direct settlement of medical insurance claims, allowing residents to enjoy the benefits of grassroots healthcare reforms right at their doorstep.

This year, Shanxi is focusing on upgrading its county-level healthcare integration reforms. By enhancing the diagnostic and treatment capabilities at both county and township levels, the province is promoting the development of county-level tertiary medical institutions and rural healthcare facilities.

Cities across the province are developing plans to improve counties' basic diagnostic and treatment capabilities for common and frequently occurring diseases, ensuring that more patients can receive reliable medical care close to home.