BOOSTING HEALTHCARE

Outlook Weekly

October 20, 2014

In recent years, people in China have suffered increasing difficulties in seeing a doctor. A more balanced distribution of medical resources will help people gain easier access to healthcare. The key is to make the best use of the country's general practitioners and community clinics.

In this issue, Outlook Weekly looks at how to better utilize the nation's general practitioners and community clinics. As chronic diseases become an increasingly serious threat to public health in China, general practitioners in community clinics are more important than ever. International experience shows that without a basic level of accessible medical services, a country's health and medical systems have to pay a high price.

However, general practitioners account for only 4.3 percent of the total number of doctors in China, and only a small number of patients visit community clinics. To persuade people to start visiting community clinics for minor ailments, there must be a sufficient number of good general practitioners. Most medical college graduates choose not to work as general practitioners in community clinics because of the large income gap between them and specialized doctors.

Favorable policies should be adopted to encourage medical students to work in community clinics.

ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN

South Reviews

October 21, 2014

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November 2012, the anti-corruption campaign has made remarkable progress. A number of corrupt officials have been put under investigation as a result, further deterring officials from accepting bribes.

In this issue, South Reviews notes that the anti-graft bid is now entering a new phase. Serious corruption cases will continue to be exposed, further intimidating officials from committing similar offences.

However, corruption cannot be rooted out by simply addressing individual cases; the country's anti-corruption system must be transformed as a whole. In the new phase of the anti-corruption campaign, it's necessary that a system to restrict and supervise power is established. Only when power comes under public scrutiny can corruption be prevented. Rule of law should be endorsed as the fundamental way to achieve wide-reaching change.

KNOWING MORE ABOUT THE NEIGHBOR

China Newsweek

October 27, 2014

As ancient Oriental civilizations located respectively on the north and south side of the Himalayas, China and India share many similarities. Both have a population of over 1 billion, enormous potential for economic development, and their military powers have been consistently on the rise. However, despite their similarities, for many Chinese, India remains a distant land.

The Chinese understanding of India has been limited to popular subjects such as the Bollywood film industry, the much-revered Indian cuisine, India's dominant place in the global IT industry, and the infamous slums of its main cities. It might therefore be surmised that the Chinese people's understanding of India is inadequate.

In this issue, China Newsweek notes that as two rising nations, the relationship between China and India is of great importance in the 21st century. With the global center of gravity shifting to Asia, India, Asia's third and the world's ninth largest economy, will increasingly have a bearing on both China and the world.

The current industrial division of labor has China dominating manufacturing and India monopolizing the service sector, but both countries plan to compete in industries pioneered by the other. Thus, China and India are on a path to perpetual cooperation. In addition to what they already know, the Chinese need to know more about India.

MARATHON POPULARITY

China Daily

November 2, 2014

Despite the increased enrollment fee for participation in this year's Beijing Marathon on October 19, more people enrolled than in previous years. Participating in marathons has long been popular around the world, but it was only recently that the long-distance sport gained wide popularity in China.

According to statistics, there will be 54 marathons on the Chinese mainland this year. The figure in 2013 was around 36. China Daily notes that as participation skyrockets, fitness, fad and finance are the main reasons for the craze.

Running is the most accessible, cheapest and easily organizable sport. The growing number of marathons nationwide is also because of China's economic development and rapid expansion of a middle class. China now has up to 300 million people focused on healthy and fit lifestyles, and most of them are in highly developed cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

In the past, governments used to be evaluated based on their GDP; but the well-being and fitness of the people are just as important now. Another reason behind cities' enthusiasm for hosting marathon races is tourism promotion. As increasing numbers of people prefer to attend a marathon in a different city, transportation, accommodation, food and sightseeing also become necessary.