Beijing's first batch of family health practitioners took qualifying exams on Saturday to assess their skills with community health issues, the Beijing News reported.
The 1,200 examinees included general practitioners, community health nurses, and health workers from the grassroots community health centers in the eight districts of the city.
The exam is designed to test doctors' abilities in the prevention and cure of chronic diseases at the community level.
General physicians were tested on their diagnostic skills and knowledge pertaining to the four major chronic diseases that threaten the health of Chinese citizens: coronary heart disease, hypertension, cerebral apoplexy, and diabetes.
Auxiliary medical staff were tested on their knowledge of disease control and intervention skills.
The Municipal Health Bureau said such tests will be mandatory for family doctor teams in the future. Qualified examinees will be issued with a certificate; those who fail will undergo another year of training before retaking the exam.
The city still needs another 7,000 family doctors and community health workers. In an effort to solve the talent shortage problem, retired experts and those from hospitals will be temporarily assigned to community health centers.
Beijing plans to build a community health service system in 2008 that will include house call service from community doctors.
Source: Xinhua
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