Volunteer groups aid medical staff in countryside

A key focus of China's healthcare sector this year is to dispatch senior medical professionals in urban areas to the countryside and strengthen support for primary health clinics, the National Health Commission said during a recent news conference.

Mi Feng, a spokesman for the commission, said that over the years, China has continuously channeled quality medical resources to grassroots facilities, improving their infrastructure and services and enhancing the training of local healthcare workers.

Last year, the proportion of medical visits at primary healthcare institutions nationwide reached 52 percent, he said during a news conference held in Xichang, Sichuan province, last month.