China Aims To Double Doctor Numbers by 2020

China is aiming to double its number of doctors by 2020. This is part of the five-year road map set by the government to improve its health care system said to be plagued by snarling queues and poor rural services.

According to Reuters via Japan Times, China's government would also like to improve its technology and trim the public sector to better deliver the health care services that are part of the health care bill expected to hit $1 trillion by 2020

The pricey health care bill also expects to attract global drug maker, medical device firms and hospital operators, according to McKinsey & Co.

Specifically, the Chinese government want to install two general doctors per thousand people by 2020 in Beijing. An increase of nursing and support staff is also expected as a way to address the 'insufficient', 'low quality' and 'fragmented' services in the country's health care system, as mentioned in Mail Online.

Sources said that the scarcity of doctors is caused by low salaries assigned for the profession. Also, the doctor scarcity has also increased the tension among urban hospitals as health care professionals cannot fully accommodate all needs from patients, Immortal News said.

In terms of technology, China will take advantage of model devices and online 'cloud systems'-plans that would benefit major tech firms like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and its health care subsidiary Alibaba Health Information Technology Ltd.

The five-year plan would also develop health care in the grass roots level as well as boosting the capabilities of major urban hospitals.

It has also considered the possibility of international business deals with private sectors and international firms.