What they say

Editor's note: The State Council Information Office invited representatives from the healthcare system to share their stories and insights about their work on Tuesday.

As doctors, we spare no effort to save our patients, even if only a sliver of hope is left. Our greatest joy comes from seeing our patients' happiness. This truly embodies the spirit of Norman Bethune: the life and health of our patients come above everything else.

Jiang Tao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief neurosurgeon at the Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University

Village doctors are the frontline guardians of the villagers' health. Having worked in rural healthcare for 25 years, I've witnessed the tremendous changes that have taken place. Our village now has much better medical facilities, conditions and healthcare quality. Gone are the days when diagnosing patients relied solely on basic equipment such as stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs and thermometers. The country is now vigorously implementing initiatives to strengthen the grassroots health system, which is incredibly exciting.

Yang Shixia, a doctor at Baiyangping village clinic, Bibo town, Kaili city, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture, Guizhou province

I've spent most of my life caring for patients with leprosy, and I deeply understand that this work is not just a job, but a long-term commitment to their well-being. When someone contracts leprosy, their life changes dramatically. Some become disabled due to the disease, and as they age, they face more health issues, which only adds to their loneliness and isolation. I believe that simply being there for them every day is the most ordinary yet warmest form of care I can offer.

Xing Shaoyun, head nurse of the dermatological rehabilitation department at the Fifth People's Hospital of Hainan province

Our work is to safeguard everyone's health. It involves preventing infectious diseases, as well as managing chronic diseases such as hypertension to ensure that people don't get sick, fall ill less frequently and avoid severe illnesses. In recent years, we have consistently implemented comprehensive infectious disease prevention and control measures, including monitoring, early warning systems and emergency responses. We have also maintained a multidepartmental collaborative approach to infectious disease control and enforced public health responsibilities within medical institutions, which has yielded positive results.

Jiao Jiandong, chief physician at the Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Jiangsu province

Traditional Chinese Medicine belongs to China, but also belongs to the world. When I was a visiting scholar at Columbia University in 2018, I had in-depth conversations with local doctors and patients and felt the strong demand for TCM among local women. Once, a desperate patient who had experienced four unsuccessful in-vitro fertilization attempts came to us. After rounds of communication, we identified the underlying issues and used an integrative approach combining TCM and Western medicine to enable her to conceive. Her family held our hands and said, 'TCM made us believe in the miracle of life.'

Gao Jie, chief TCM physician at the department of gynecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in Guangdong province