China Medical Information and Big Data Association Establishes General Practice and Health Management Branch in Beijing

On April 13, 2019, the “2019 China Internet+ General Practice and Health Management Summit Forum,” hosted by the Chinese Society of Health Informatics and Medical Big Data, was successfully held at Peking University Health Science Center. During the forum, the inaugural meetings for the Professional Committee on General Practice and Health Management, the Standards Committee, and the Working Committee under the Chinese Society of Health Informatics and Medical Big Data were concurrently convened.

Jin Xiaotao, former Deputy Director of the National Health and Family Planning Commission and President of the Chinese Society for Health Informatics and Medical Big Data; Ou Xiaoli, Director of the Department of Social Development at the National Development and Reform Commission; Mao Qun’an, Director of the Department of Planning and Information at the National Health Commission; Feng Wen, former Director of the Population Culture Development Center of the National Health Commission; Xu Guihua, former Executive Vice President of the Chinese Association on Tobacco Control; Cui Yanli, Vice President of the Chinese Society for Health Informatics and Medical Big Data; Wang Peiyu, Vice Dean of the School of Public Health at Peking University; Gong Tao, Deputy Director of the Department of Neurology and Chief Physician at Beijing Hospital, along with other leaders and experts, attended the conference. Also present were nearly 200 representatives from local government authorities, social organizations, medical institutions, research institutes, and related enterprises. The conference was moderated by Zhou Gongwei, Deputy Director of the Statistical Information Center of the National Health Commission.

Cui Yanli read out the speech delivered by President Jin Xiaotao. President Jin emphasized the need to fully recognize the significance and role of general practice and health management within the context of the broader “Big Health” initiative. Leveraging the three committees on General Practice and Health Management under the Society, comprehensive progress should be made in advancing the “Internet + General Practice and Health Management” model. While promoting the application of big data in healthcare and Internet-enabled services, it is essential to integrate online and offline approaches, combine the application of cutting-edge technologies with grassroots service implementation, and foster the integrated development of public health undertakings and the healthcare industry. These efforts will help improve the level of primary healthcare services, facilitate the transformation of healthcare service models, and promote innovative development in general practice as well as the development of the general practitioner workforce.

In their respective addresses, Ou Xiaoli and Mao Qun'an pointed out that it is essential to earnestly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important directive on "shifting the focus from disease treatment to people's health." They emphasized the need to accelerate the integration of healthcare big data and artificial intelligence with general practice, health management, industrial development, and socioeconomic progress, thereby contributing to the building of a Healthy China and the realization of the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

A total of 155 inaugural members were elected to the three committees through a voting process at the conference. Feng Wen was elected as Chair of the Working Committee, Wang Peiyu as Chair of the Professional Committee, and Gong Tao as Chair of the Standards Committee. Ren Tao, Deputy Dean of the School of Public Health at Peking University, was elected as Secretary-General of both the Working Committee and the Professional Committee, while Chu Defa, Deputy Director of the Information Department at Beijing Hospital, was elected as Secretary-General of the Standards Committee.

The three leaders stated in their speeches that they would fulfill their duties in accordance with the law and the society’s articles of association, by establishing an integrated industry interaction and exchange platform, a platform for academic exchange and research within the industry, and a platform for the development and formulation of technical standards. They will carry out initiatives such as advancing “Internet + General Practice” informatization, actively encourage and attract social forces to participate in the construction of big data for health management, and serve the cause of public health and hygiene, thereby enhancing the people’s sense of gain, happiness, and security.