Beijing doctors treating foreign patients during the 2008 Olympics will be required to speak English and also write prescriptions, medical records, and costs list in both Chinese and English.

An applicant for Beijing Olympic volunteer driver takes a driving test on December 16,2006.[China Daily]

More than 20 hospitals in Beijing, which include the People's Liberation Army General Hospital and the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, have been selected as special foreign treatment centers during the 2008 Games.

These hospitals are rated the best in the capital and will continue to import better medical equipment, improve service standards, and enhance staff training in the lead up to 2008, according to Jin Dapeng, director of Beijing Health Bureau.

All doctors and staff at these hospitals will learn English and other languages in order to better communicate with foreign clients. Multi-lingual first-aid volunteers will also be recruited.

The Health Bureau will collaborate with banks to ensure foreign patients can use international credit cards in the hospitals.

Foreign patients can also enjoy traditional Chinese medical services, such as acupuncture, massage, and herbal medicines.

The improved health network will include a response plan for public health emergencies, disease prevention and control systems, better medical treatment and health monitoring and widespread public health information.

"Our goal is to ensure that there would be no outbreak of serious epidemics, no big public health accidents. We must have the ability to quickly control them if they appear," Jin said.

He said systems would be set up to ensure every injured or ill person is given timely first aid and treatment.

Beijing's emergency medical aid center will upgrade its global positioning system used for ambulances. The Health Bureau will cooperate with the aviation department to provide air rescue services during the Games.

Jin said a food safety monitoring system covering all Olympic Games' districts and counties will also be set up this year. Food and drinking water in the Olympic village, stadiums, hotels and restaurants will be strictly monitored.

He said a reporting and emergency response system covering intestinal and respiratory diseases has been established and will be continuously strengthened to prevent infectious diseases.

"There are still some weak points in the medical system - for example, the skills and service quality of doctors and nurses need to be improved," Jin said.