International hospital set for opening

A high-end international hospital will officially open in late May as a pilot program to further promote China's medical reforms.

Located in the city's Pudong district, Shanghai International Medical Center will be managed by Asia's largest medical group, Singapore-based ParkwayHealth.

The hospital will use a new operational method that is different from most public hospitals. For example, physicians at the center are allowed to practice medicine in multiple hospitals and clinics instead of only one location.

"We have already reached agreements with the city's several top hospitals, allowing their doctors to practice medicine in our center at some time," said Zhang Chengyu, SIMC hospital director, adding that nearly 100 doctors from leading public hospitals have signed agreements with the center.

"We hope that we can work out a more effective way for doctors to better work in the center," he said.

SIMC currently is in a trial operation, with more than 80 medical consulting rooms and 130 beds in use.