Core information and interpretation of scientific medical and health education

(en.nhfpc.gov.cn)

Updated: 2014-11-23

I. Scientific medical treatment choice refers to the rational use of medical and health resources and choosing appropriate medical and health services to effectively prevent and treat disease and maintain health.

The choice is closely connected to everyone’s health and involves all stages in the process of life. It makes for a more convenient, economic and effective solution for health problems. The public should pay attention to science when choosing medical treatment to safeguard their health and the health of others.

To make the right choice, one needs to establish the prevention-first health concept; make rational use of health resources (public health, diagnosis and treatment, disease prevention and health care, and medical insurance); grasp basic principles and methods of grading diagnosis and treatment, as well as appointment registration; select standard and suitable medical and health institutions; see a doctor according to prescribed procedures; communicate with doctors; follow doctor's advice in the process of diagnosis and treatment; abide by provisions of medical institutions; and correctly understand medical limitations.

II. Follow grading diagnosis and treatment; advocate for small diseases at the community level, serious problems at hospitals, and recovery back at the community; and avoid choosing tertiary hospitals blindly

At the moment, China’s hospitals are divided into three levels. Community health service centers and health clinics in towns and townships fall under the first level. Medical staff members at first and second-level hospitals generally have received professional training and are qualified to practice medicine. They can deal with some common and frequently-occurring diseases. Patients suffering common and frequently-occurring diseases should choose first and second-level hospitals first, instead of blindly going to third-level hospitals. In this way, they can save unnecessary time and costs. At the same time, first and second-level hospitals are widely spread across the country. They can ease the burden of out-patient registration at tertiary hospitals, shorten wait time for patients to see a doctor, and allow for more time for communication between doctors and patients, making thorough and sound health service possible.

Many regions across China have established a two-way referral system. Patients can be transferred to corresponding tertiary hospitals when they can’t be diagnosed or treated in first or second-level hospitals. The preliminary diagnosis information at previous hospitals can help achieve more pertinent choice of department at tertiary hospitals and improve efficiency of diagnosis.

III. Regular health checkup for early detection, diagnosis and treatment

Health checkups refer to body examinations through medical means and methods to understand the examinee’s health conditions and detect in advance high-risk factors that impact health and potential disease. It aims to achieve the goal of disease prevention or early treatment. The checkup reflects the idea of prevention first, and is an important part of scientific medical choice. It’s an effective way to preserve health.

Regular health checkups can find problems and diseases in the early stage to help change bad habits and reduce health risks. Health problems and diseases found in health checkups should be dealt with in an orderly manner. Patients should be alert to early symptoms and go to standard medical and health care institutes in time to seek diagnosis to ensure early detection, diagnosis and treatment.