The total investment for the first-stage establishment of the medical centres is expected to reach 1 billion yuan (US$120.6 million),'' said Liu Jun, director of the city's health bureau.

"The investment exceeds the total spent on clinical medical research in the last 10 years,'' Liu added.

Half the investment will come from the city's finance bureau, the other half will come from hospitals.

"Hospitals can collect capital from private sources,'' said Zhang Kan, an official with the health bureau. "Foreign investment is being considered.''

Shanghai has about 30 key medical specialities, some of which are world-leading, such as ones relating to liver and kidney research.

In the next five years, about 15 to 20 key clinical centres will be set up.

"Shanghai takes the lead in much medical research. But because of a lack of capital and efficient management, they have not developed enough to face competition from abroad,'' said Zhang.

Therefore, a concentration of resources is needed to support them.

The centres will use facilities and doctors from a number of hospitals in Shanghai.

The centres will be headed by top researchers. For example, Chen Zhu, an expert in the human genome and blood research, is expected to head one key medical centre at Ruijin Hospital.

"Foreign experts are also welcome to join the research centres,'' Zhang said.

Experts believe that such medical centres will upgrade the structure of local hospitals and lead to more medical professionals.

The first five medical centres will be decided upon soon and work will begin on them this year, insiders said.

(China Daily 06/03/2001)