China's Ministry of Health has released a guideline on the planning of medical resources which asks medical institutions at various levels to deploy their resources effectively and efficiently.
The guideline points out that medical resources should be reasonably allocated based on the local demand to gradually reduce the gap between urban and rural areas in medical services and ensure that all people, particularly farmers can enjoy medical services in a fair and just manner.
The guideline requires a survey be carried out on the medical services in different regions to determine the requirements of the local people, their use of medical services, and factors affecting medical service.
The guideline stresses that medical institutions that are not used effectively should be cut back while others should be expanded to meet the increasing demand.
The guideline says that planning of medical resources should be revised every five years based on the review of the local social and economic development as well as the demand for medical services.
