Shanghai's first doctor group focusing on plastic surgery was set up yesterday.
A team led by Dr Li Guihai signed an agreement with Shanghai Boai Hospital for a plastic surgery practice.
As part of the city's health reforms, more doctors have adopted the Western approach of quitting their jobs in one specific hospital to work in a group of doctors working for different medical facilities.
The measure allows patients to have better chances of receiving treatment of leading experts in more hospitals and it also helps doctors to receive an income in line with their skills and experience.
There are already some doctor groups working in state-owned, private and joint-venture hospitals, providing more choices for patients.
"In addition to Boai, we will also cooperate with more hospitals in the future to fully adopt a modern doctor group management and operation system," said Li, a hair transplant specialist.
"Quitting a job from a stable employer is a challenge for many Chinese doctors, who are used to working in a hospital and seeing a large number of patients every day," Li said.
But both patients and doctors cannot enjoy a smooth and ordered service under the old system. "The unreasonable pricing system also forced many doctors to prescribe unnecessary medicines and tests," he added.
