Takeda China's Grassroots Doctor Support Program Bears Fruit in Rural Healthcare Revitalization

ShanghaiJanuary 25, 2024PR Newswire -- A grassroots doctor support project initiated by Takeda China, co-organized by the China Red Cross Foundation, and guided by the Jing'an District Health Commission of Shanghai, as well as the Health Bureaus of Guangnan County and Malipo County in Yunnan Province, was launched in Shanghai in November. Nearly 30 grassroots healthcare workers from Guangnan County and Malipo County traveled to Shanghai for a three-month designated training program. Recently, a symposium for the project was held in Shanghai, reviewing the interim achievements of the grassroots medical staff’s training at Shanghai hospitals. Additionally, all parties involved in the project engaged in in-depth discussions and shared visions on enhancing grassroots health service capabilities and supporting rural medical revitalization.

Symposium on the Achievements of the 2023 Grassroots Doctor Support Project in Guangnan County and Malipo County, Yunnan Province

With the implementation of the "Healthy China 2030" Planning Outline, the overall healthcare service capacity in China has improved, and the health security level of the population continues to rise. However, the total supply of high-quality medical resources remains insufficient, particularly with a weakening of primary healthcare services in some regions. The "Opinions on Further Deepening Reforms to Promote the Healthy Development of the Rural Medical and Health System," issued by the General Office of the State Council, also emphasized the importance of prioritizing the development of talent teams. A professional and standardized rural doctor workforce must be established.Liao Ling, Deputy Minister of the Disaster Relief and Development Department of the China Red Cross FoundationEmphasized: "By empowering grassroots medical institutions, it can effectively accelerate the construction of a tiered medical treatment system, achieving the goal that villagers and township residents can treat minor illnesses without leaving the village and receive initial treatment for serious illnesses at village-level health stations, improving treatment efficiency, which helps alleviate the strain on medical resources." Therefore, this project is upgraded again based on the principle of Shanghai-Yunnan paired assistance and common development, covering a larger number of beneficiaries and a wider range. The training content covers many aspects such as medical management and clinical skills enhancement, aiming to bring advanced medical knowledge and technology back to Yunnan, helping the locality strengthen the construction of grassroots medical and health centers, talent cultivation, capacity building, and the service capability of the institutions.

Zhang Qin, Director of the Science, Education, and Information Department of the Jing'an District Health Commission of ShanghaiIt also affirmed Takeda China's efforts in revitalizing rural healthcare: "As early as 2019, Takeda China formed a connection with grassroots doctors in Yunnan Province and launched corresponding support programs to assist regions in Yunnan that genuinely needed to improve their primary healthcare service capabilities through training. We have also witnessed the changes in mindset and awareness among local grassroots doctors, who are the guardians of healthy villages, after receiving the training, which has allowed us to feel the significance of the project. In the future, we also hope to have the opportunity to reach more grassroots doctors and contribute further to health-related public welfare and the revitalization of rural healthcare."

Lian Jing, Head of Corporate Affairs and Patient Services at Takeda ChinaShe stated that Takeda China will remain committed to advancing the grassroots doctor support program, saying: "Having been rooted in China for 30 years, Takeda has always adhered to the principle of ‘putting patients first’ and actively contributed to the high-quality development of China’s health care sector. In recent years, the Chinese government has implemented multiple measures to promote the distribution of quality medical resources to grassroots areas, improving rural medical service standards. Takeda China is deeply honored to support the implementation of China’s rural health revitalization strategy by empowering medical institutions in remote regions. While accelerating the introduction of innovative drugs into the Chinese market, Takeda will also actively collaborate with all sectors of society to help extend access to quality medical resources and services to broader grassroots levels across China, enabling local communities to enjoy high-quality and efficient health care close to home."

The successful hosting of this symposium has laid a solid foundation for Takeda China to advance the implementation and development of such projects in the future. Takeda China reiterated its long-term commitment to bridging the gap in medical services between urban and rural areas through continuous resource investment, ensuring that every patient can enjoy equitable and high-quality healthcare services. Looking ahead, Takeda China will continue to collaborate closely with people from all walks of life to jointly promote the sustainable development and prosperity of grassroots healthcare in China.