Awareness raising event held to mark the World family doctor day

An awareness raising event was jointly held in Beijing by the Beijing Community Health Association and Beijing Community Health Promotion Council to mark the World Family Doctor Day, which falls on May 19th each year.

Representatives from National Health Commission, Beijing City Health Commission and several district health commissions, the staff of community health management center of Beijing city and districts and Servier China volunteers participated in the 7-kilometer walking activity together with more than 2000 family doctors and patients from community hospitals to promote a healthy life.

In addition to the walk, a variety of disease knowledge sharing, patient education and free consultation activities were organized to improve public awareness of the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, and promote scientific and healthy lifestyle.

Senior physicians Kong Yu and Wang Ning from Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University participated in the event and provided free consultation onsite to the patients.

"Large hospitals should join hands with community ones to better curb chronic diseases and improve public health," said Kong.

With a fast aging population in China, the number of patients with chronic diseases is also increasing substantially. Official statistics showed hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease have become three common chronic diseases at community hospitals, accounting for nearly 34 percent of all daily visits.

Meanwhile, the control rate of Chinese patients with hypertension is only 13.8%, and the rate for diabetes patients is only 3.08%. Improving the treatment outcome particularly at community hospitals for patients with chronic diseases and allowing them of better disease treatment and healthcare management has become an urgent issue, experts said.