Shezhen's health authorities will set up about 10 hospitals and 400 community clinics in the next five years to meet the needs of a fast-growing population.

The city's health chief Jiang Hanping revealed at a seminar Wednesday that the new hospitals will specialize in treating tumors, mental disorders, dental problems, nose and ear diseases, bone injuries and gynecological diseases. A sanatorium and three comprehensive hospitals are also included in the plan, with one located near Binhai Thoroughfare and another in the Great Industrial Zone in Longgang District.

There are already 350 community clinics in the city, and the 400 to be built in the next five years will make it 750. This means that every 10,000 residents will have access to one clinic.

Jiang also promised to increase the initial investment and find venues for the clinics. Presently, the city government offers 150,000 yuan (US$18,500) as startup funds for each community clinic with a staff of four.

There were 1,188 medical institutions registered in the city by the end of 2004, offering 15,069 beds. Among them, 87 were hospitals.

The increase of medical facilities has not been in step with the city's expansion and fast-growing population, said Mayor Xu Zongheng who attended Wednesday's meeting.

Xu urged the health bureau to convene an urgent meeting to plan the distribution of the new community clinics and set up the clinics as soon as possible. The mayor also instructed health officials to beef up efforts to address public health emergencies amid a growing concern about food safety loopholes.

(Shenzhen Daily November 18, 2005)