When Zhang Wei, a 40-year private doctor, was receiving her patients at the membership-only private clinic of Beijing Universal Medical Assistance Co Ltd (BUMA), she tries to get as much health information through friendly heart-to-heart communication.

"I try to understand my patients' health and help them prevent diseases," said Zhang.

Like all the doctors working here, she focuses more on enhancing the well-being of their patients in the broad sense instead of keeping them only physically fit. They have at least 20 years of clinical experience. Now managing health has become one critical issue following the medical fashion seen around the world.

American medical research shows 50 percent of the causes of death in people in their midlife can be traced to bad lifestyles and habits, 20 percent to environment, 20 percent to genetic reasons, while an only 10 percent to the medical service system.

In the past century, the average life span of American people has increased by 30 years, only five of which is attributed to the advanced medical service system. By contrast, disease prevention means nowadays Americans live 25 years longer.

The average expected life span of Chinese in 2001 is 71.2 years, that of men 69.8 and women 72.7. Statistically, Chinese can live to be 71.2 years old, but after 63.2 their health deteriorates. By sex, men lost 7.7 years of health, women 8.4.

According to media reports, there are plenty of cases of successful people dying in their prime.

"Such invaluable losses of the most brilliant talents in their productive years result from insufficient health care knowledge and absence of effective health asset management," said Hawk Jiang, executive general manager of the BUMA.

Jiang met several clients and asked them some simple questions.

They knew about their financial asset and investments like the backs of their hands, but most of them have little knowledge of their own health except for medical examination records taken at least five years ago.

"After we did an electrocardiogram for them, their faces had gone pale at the abnormal result," said Jiang.

As more and more people choose to exchange their health for the success in their career, the careless attitude about health would surely result in a deficit in health at an earlier time, warned Jiang.

"We are selling to our clients a concept of viewing health as valuable assets," he added.

Winning the trust of their clients is the most difficult but foremost step, as Zhang noted. She believed that the key for her to build up a sense of trust was to help her patients solve their physical and mental troubles.

It is a systematic project to manage the health assets. The private doctors would keep standard health record for all members and monitor their health anytime and anywhere for early intervention into disease-causing factors.

On the basis of the health condition and life habit of the members, the private doctors would design the healthiest plans in diet, nutrition, and exercise. For some, the plans also include disease prevention, treatment and recovering. 

(China Daily January 31, 2005)