The funding pattern of hospitals in Shanghai is to be changed in 2002, opening doors for private and foreign investment, according to sources at a meeting held in the city Wednesday.
Officials from the Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau said that various financial channels will be opened and will include finance from government, private and foreign sources.
An investment company and a state asset management company will be established by the local government to take charge of financing and administrating local hospitals.
The local health services market will be opened up to private and foreign investors on condition that services at public non-profit hospitals do not suffer because of the establishment of private medical institutions.
(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2002)
