Major hospitals in Xiamen, Fujian province, are embarking on health care reforms by phasing out minor illness outpatient services, according to the Xiamen municipal Health and Family Planning Commission.

“The first affiliated hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen University Zhongshan hospital and Xiamen hospital of T.C.M are among the first batch to cancel the diabetes, hypertension and traditional Chinese medical outpatient services. The city will gradually decrease the outpatient services in its major hospitals by a rate of 35% by the end of this year,” said Hong Fengying, deputy director of the Xiamen municipal Health and Family Planning Commission.

Hong added that Xiamen currently has 25 medical service centers in its communities and 13 clinics which are qualified to provide medical treatments to patients with minor ailments.

The reforms hope to remedy the current problem of patients with minor illness feeling neglected amid consultation when visiting major hospitals.

The new policy dictates that major hospitals are to receive severe cases and that the evaluation of major hospitals will focus on professional criteria, rather than on outpatient receptions.

To push forward with the reforms, the authority will adjust the proportion of medical fee reimbursements of major hospitals and community medical centers. The specific policies of the reforms are still being formulated.

In addition, eminent doctors and specialists will partner up with the clinics and community medical centers and provide services to patients there from time to time.

By Liu Xiaoyu from China Daily Fujian Bureau