Beijing has announced a new health policy, allowing intermediate and senior physicians to treat patients at multiple locations, rather then working solely at one hospital. The measures went into effect on March 1st.

Yang Shuixiang is a senior physician, and director of the department of cardiology, in Beijing's SHIJITAN Hospital. He's been based there for six years. But as of now, Yang can also treat patients in other hospitals.

The relaxing of the rules, means that doctors using western methods can operate in up to three hospitals, and doctors of traditional Chinese mediceine can work in five.

Yang said, "In my opinion, the policies contribute to the development of China's health care system. By doing this, doctors from big hospitals will be able to work in hospitals at the basic level. I’d love to go down there and serve the public if I get a chance to do so. And I hope other doctors feel the same."

But some people are worried that standards will fall at hospitals where the doctors are mainly based.

To allay this concern, it's expected that big public hospitals will exert their own limitations on cross-site working.

Zhang Nengwei, Assist. Manager, said, "These policies are a great improvement in health care reforms. Our hospital will co-operate with them actively, both in supporting the policies and allowing doctors to take advantage of the scheme. Of course, the management of doctors can be a big challenge, and we will have to put in place proper arrangements.

The new policy encourages doctors go to work in primary health care institutions and within communities, to treat people who have difficulty travelling.

The move has received a positive reception.

Patient Shi Yumei said, "There is something wrong with my leg. I wanted to go to a hospital where specialists could treat it. But it is too far away. If they could come to our community, that would be great!"

CCTV reporter said, People have long complained that getting to see a doctor can be difficult. With the launch of these new policies, there is now some hope the situation will change.

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