Doctors will be encouraged to open their practices individually in Beijing, as the city government plans to introduce a reform to ease restrictions on such practices, according to a senior health official.

Fang Laiying, head of the Beijing Health Bureau, said Monday that measures are being discussed to make qualified doctors easily accessible in communities.

For example, veteran doctors can be encouraged to practice part-time in chemists and community health service centers, or open up their own clinics after retirement at the age of 60, he said.

Neither a timetable nor details on the reform plan has been available, since the health bureau is still soliciting public ideas on the reform plan.

The Law on Medical Practitioners in effect since 1999 mandates all medical practitioners to register their fixed work places on practice certificates. This restriction has obstructed the personnel flow of qualified doctors.

Fang said Beijing's new medical reform is aimed to allow medical practitioners to practice part-time in community clinics or open private businesses.

The opening-up of medical resources is expected to prevent people from flocking to large hospitals, which have led to long queues and hefty bills, he said.

Medical reform has been on top of the Chinese government's reform agenda this year. The government report unveiled at the annual session of the National People's Congress earlier this month announced an increase in spending on social programs including pension and medical reform in 2009 by 17.6 percent year on year to 293 billion yuan (about 42.84 billion U.S. dollars).

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2009)