Detailed career information about doctors will be available in registration offices for patients to study.

The coastal city in East China's Shandong Province is introducing the new system to all its hospitals.

Shao Linyan, a patient at the Yantai Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology Hospital, said she was surprised to see the changes being introduced.

"In the past I chose a doctor after registration without knowing any information about the doctor's background. Sometimes I would just queue beside the doctor with the least patients, but now I can choose my own doctor based on information," she said.

Tian Mingbao, vice-mayor of the city, said the move is part of the city's medical reforms.

"Giving patients sufficient choice in their medical care is motivating reform across the entire health system," Tian said. "Improving the quality and efficiency of medical services is the aim. Patients will get more choice in the end."

Wang Zhenhua, hospital president, said the new system encourages doctors to be more competitive.

"Doctors or nurses with excellent skills are favored by patients, and so they get better paid. The differences in income motivate others to work harder to catch up," Wang said. "In the past, patients came to see the doctors, now doctors have to ask patients to choose them. The concept of medical services has been renewed, and its quality is naturally improving."

Fan Min, a doctor at a local hospital, said he feels the pressure of having to attract patients.

"I'm encouraged when patients choose me. I have to compete with the sophisticated older doctors and the aggressive younger ones. We are all encouraged to enrich our skills," Fan said.

"Patient choice" is gradually being introduced to all hospitals in Yantai, including the major hospitals such as Yuhuangding Hospital and Yantai Mountain Hospital.

(China Daily 04/06/2001)