China will implement a new regulation on management of electronic medical records as of April 1, according to the top health watchdog.

The new regulation, which focuses on the writing, storage, use and sealing for safekeeping of medical records, is aimed at protecting the legitimate interest of all parties, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC).

The records contain digitized information -- including words, symbols, graphs, figures and images -- and their proper handling is important for hospital informatization and to safeguard the quality of medical care, according to a Xinhua report.

According to the regulation, electronic medical records of outpatient and emergency services must be kept by medical institutions for at least 15 years. As for those hospitalized, the period must be no less than 30 years.