[Photo: Xu Jun, Xinhua]

The idea of seeing a family doctor is still a new thing for many Chinese.

But that may soon be different.

As a pioneering project, southwestern Sichuan province provides family doctor services to more than 32 million of its citizens by the end of last year.

The service fees are shared by health insurance funds, the per capita funding for basic public health services and other charges, with optional paid services such as intelligence tests for children, and tests for jaundice-like symptoms.

Nationwide, family physician services are gradually becoming a widespread practice as well.

Last year, 200 Chinese cities introduced family doctor service contracts under a pilot public hospital reform.

A top health official said the country plans to extend the services to 30 percent of its city population and 60 percent of its priority groups such as children, elderly people, pregnant women and the disabled in 2017.

China also plans to extend the service to the entire national population by 2020.

For more on family doctor services, Zhao Ying earlier talked to Dr. John Cai, Director of Center for Healthcare Management and Policy of China Europe International Business School.