Novartis Partners with Multiple Stakeholders to Advance Healthcare Development: One-Year Review and Outlook of the 'Hundred Cities, Thousand Counties' Project

On November 6, at the 7th China International Import Expo, Novartis China, the National Health Commission's Talent Exchange and Service Center, and the Chinese Medical Equipment Association reunited to jointly review and summarize the fruitful achievements of the first anniversary of the "Hundred Cities, Thousand Counties" Health Talent Training Program. Hu Xiuzhong, Deputy Director of Training Department I of the National Health Commission's Talent Exchange and Service Center, Hou Yan, President of the Chinese Medical Equipment Association, Shi Yonggang, President of Donggang Central Hospital in Dandong, Liaoning, and Li Yao, President and Managing Director of Novartis China, attended the summary meeting.

In response to the national healthcare reform's policy call to "strengthen grassroots healthcare," and to implement the guiding principles of documents such as the "Comprehensive Capacity Improvement Work Plan for County Hospitals under the ‘Thousand Counties Project’ (2021-2025)," to continuously enhance the comprehensive capabilities of county-level hospitals, and to genuinely meet the medical service needs of county residents, the Talent Exchange and Service Center of the National Health Commission, the Chinese Medical Equipment Association, and Novartis China jointly signed a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum during the 2023 CIIE, launching the Hundred Cities, Thousand Counties Health Talents Training Program. Since its launch, the program has focused on four key modules: hospital management and specialty capacity building in dermatology, rheumatology, and cardiology. Through organizing high-level seminars, academic exchanges, case sharing, and other activities, it has continuously promoted specialty development and diagnostic treatment capacity improvement in grassroots hospitals, accelerating the advancement of Healthy China.

At the conference, the National Health Commission Talent Exchange Service Center, the Chinese Medical Equipment Association, and Novartis China jointly reviewed and summarized the progress of the "Hundred Cities, Thousand Counties" project over its first year. Li Yao stated: "Since entering China, Novartis has consistently upheld its commitment to the country and actively participated in the development of China's health care system. Over the past year, thanks to the joint efforts of all parties involved, the 'Hundred Cities, Thousand Counties' project has brought positive changes to primary health care. We have witnessed more scientific and standardized management in grassroots hospitals, significant improvements in dermatology and rheumatology diagnosis and treatment capabilities, and continuous enhancement in the management of cardiovascular chronic diseases at the grassroots level. This makes me proud and further strengthens our determination to move forward. In the future, we will continue to increase investment, deeply root ourselves in municipal and grassroots markets both broadly and deeply, continuously expand areas of cooperation, provide more support to primary health care institutions, allow more patients to benefit from high-quality medical services, and contribute to the realization of Healthy China."

As one of the key leading experts of the project, Professor Cui Yong, Vice President of China-Japan Friendship Hospital, stated: "Since the launch of the 'Hundred Cities, Thousand Counties' project, we have been promoting the concept of standardized diagnosis and treatment to grassroots levels through a series of compliant training sessions and academic exchange activities. We continuously enhance the comprehensive capabilities of grassroots medical institutions from multiple aspects, including hospital management, clinical specialty development, and diagnostic capability improvement. Through the joint efforts of all parties, we are strengthening the construction of specialized clinics for diseases such as psoriasis and urticaria, promoting high-quality discipline development, and implementing the 'Three-Year Action Plan for Healthy Skin.' In this process, we have also gained a deep understanding of the problems and challenges faced by grassroots healthcare. Moving forward, we will continue to collaborate with all parties to promote high-quality discipline development and provide better medical services to grassroots patients through innovative treatment methods, elevating regional and grassroots diagnosis and treatment to new heights. Our efforts in this regard have recently been recognized with the title of 'Practitioner of High Medical Ethics' awarded at the 2024 China Physician Public Welfare Conference."

Shi Yonggang shared: "The Hundred Cities, Thousand Counties Project aligns with the national Thousand Counties Project to strengthen grassroots policies, bringing tangible assistance to our grassroots hospitals. Over the past year, our hospital has seen significant improvements in both management capabilities and specialized diagnosis and treatment standards. We have witnessed patients' trust and recognition of us and have also seen hope for grassroots healthcare. Moving forward, we look forward to more projects like this that continuously enhance the comprehensive capabilities of grassroots hospitals, promote high-quality development, and provide better medical services to the people, becoming a solid fortress for safeguarding public health."

Hu Xiuzhong emphasized that our center has always attached great importance to this work. In line with the Party's health policy for a new era and the key tasks of the National Health Commission at the grassroots level, we have consistently focused on people’s health as the core to carry out training for grassroots health talent teams. We hope that by 2025, through our collective efforts, we can continue to work hand in hand to elevate the project to new heights and contribute to high-quality development in municipal and grassroots health.

Hou Yan stated that enhancing the rural grassroots medical and health service capabilities led by county-level hospitals, accelerating the expansion and下沉of high-quality medical resources, and promoting regional balanced distribution have always been the key focus of China's health and wellness industry development and the main tasks of deepening healthcare reform. The China Medical Equipment Association is willing to collaborate with all parties and engage in extensive cooperation to effectively promote the convenience and service quality of basic medical and health services for the public at grassroots healthcare institutions. We look forward to using the Hundred Cities, Thousand Counties project as a link to unite various forces, ensuring better implementation and effectiveness of the project, and continuing to build more platforms to jointly improve clinical specialties and grassroots service capabilities, better serving the "Healthy China 2030" strategy and benefiting the broader population.