Medical education reform guideline issued

The State Council’s General Office issued a guideline on deepening reforms on medical education, to ensure a more comprehensive medical policy environment by 2020 with better medical expertise. Efforts will be enhanced through four aspects. First, the government will accelerate steps in establishing a standardized training system for medical expertise. Second, a more enabling structure between supply and demand for medical expertise will be in the pipeline. Third, systematic innovation is needed between teaching and medical training and fourth, the government will offer more incentives to medical professionals. According to the guideline, medical schools and institutions are required to improve enrollment and work to attract better-qualified stu- dents. Reform on medical education needs to be further implemented, especially in clinical and traditional medicine. The new guideline calls for enhanced training for general practitioners and pediatricians in particular, together with training in areas including public health, pharmacy, nursing and rehabilitation. It also stressed building educational bases for clinical training as well as training and education for medical expertise after school. At the same time, medical education in central and western regions will be improved, the guideline said.