National Health Commission Document No. 11 of 2020

To the People’s Governments of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government, and to the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:

To promote employment among college graduates, strengthen and optimize the ranks of rural health workers, and enhance the level of rural medical and health services, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Regulations on the Administration of Rural Health Practitioners (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations”) and with the approval of the State Council, the following opinions are hereby put forward regarding the authorization for college graduates majoring in medicine to apply for registration as rural health practitioners without taking an examination.
　　

I. Provinces and autonomous regions that permit individuals who do not hold the qualification of a practicing physician or a practicing assistant physician to apply for registration as rural doctors shall, by July 31, 2020, revise their administrative measures governing the registration of rural doctors in accordance with the requirements set forth in these Opinions, thereby allowing recent graduates (including those who have not yet secured employment during their job-seeking period) with a full-time college diploma or higher in clinical medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, or other related disciplines to apply for registration as rural doctors without taking an examination.
　　

II. County-level health administrative departments shall coordinate the demand for rural doctor positions within their jurisdictions, promptly compile and publicly release such position information through online platforms and other channels to facilitate career choices for college graduates with medical degrees. In coordinating the demand for rural doctor positions, priority shall be given to meeting the actual needs of poverty alleviation efforts, and college graduates with medical degrees shall be encouraged to take up medical and health service positions in key areas designated for poverty eradication.
　　

III. Medical college graduates who intend to work as rural doctors shall apply to the county-level health administrative department for registration as rural doctors; the registration procedure shall be conducted in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Regulations. After such graduates are hired through open recruitment by township health centers, the township health centers shall, in accordance with the law, enter into an employment contract or a labor contract with them.
　　

IV. Prior to taking up their posts, medical graduates from higher education institutions who are to serve as rural doctors shall undergo pre-service training organized by the county-level health administrative department, which will help them understand and master the rules and characteristics of practicing as a rural doctor. After assuming office, they shall be continuously guided and supervised in their daily professional activities, and subjected to regular performance evaluations. All localities should proactively create the necessary conditions to equip village medical and health institutions with basic diagnostic and treatment equipment and essential medicines, and through training and advanced studies, continually enhance rural doctors’ overall medical competence and practical skills. Qualified rural doctors should be encouraged to obtain either the qualification of practicing physician or that of assistant practicing physician.
　　

V. All localities shall ensure that rural doctors receive all applicable subsidies and benefits, improve the mechanism for sharing medical risks, and continuously enhance the working conditions of rural doctors. It is essential to show genuine care and concern for rural doctors, make concerted efforts to help them overcome practical difficulties in their work and daily life, and encourage and guarantee that they remain committed to serving rural communities.
　　

VI. All regions shall elevate their political awareness, meticulously plan and organize implementation, ensure smooth policy coordination, strengthen policy publicity and public opinion guidance, and guarantee the effective implementation of these policies. The health administrative departments of the relevant provinces and autonomous regions are required to submit a report on the implementation of this notice to our Commission by November 30, 2020.

National Health Commission

July 6, 2020

(Form of Information Disclosure: Proactive Disclosure)