Recently, the National Health Commission ("NHC") and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine ("NATCM") have jointly issued the Circular on Enhancing the Management Capacity of Privately-run Medical Institutions and the Level of Quality and Safety of Their Medical Services (the "Circular").
The Circular sets out requirements and measures in six respects, with a view to promoting sustainable, healthy and regulated development of privately-run medical institutions and enhancing their management capacity and quality and safety of their medical services. The first is highlighting law-based practicing in strict accordance with requirements set forth in laws and regulations. The second is establishing and improving various hospital management systems and working mechanisms, and stepping up routine management. The third is strictly regulating diagnosis and treatment practices. Management of pharmaceutical affairs should be improved, and timely measures should be taken to intervene in the improper drug-use prescribed by medical staff, in order to avoid excessive diagnosis and treatment. The fourth is intensifying management and control of quality of medical services, and submitting relevant data and information as required to health departments and the quality control center. The fifth is taking stronger precautions against safety risks related to medical services, and establishing a sound medical service safety and risk management system that monitors the entire process of medical services and all relevant procedures. And the last is strengthening the building of talent teams and the construction of hospital culture to lay the foundation for healthy development of hospitals.