China plans to amend laws on doctors to better regulate the country’s expanding medical personnel and adapt to changes in its healthcare sector, Ma Xiaowei, head of the National Health Commission, said on April 21.

The laws on medical doctors, approved by the top legislature in June 1998, lay out entry requirements, practice rules, and appraisal and training systems for Chinese medical practitioners, Ma said.

After being in place for more than two decades however, the law is in urgent need of revision as China’s healthcare sector and medical product industry have improved, presenting new issues to be addressed, he said.

Medical professionals in China are typically concentrated in large hospitals in urban areas, while community clinics and medical institutions in rural regions draw from a much smaller personnel.

It’s therefore imperative to develop the management and working systems for medical practitioners in China, according to Ma, who presented a report to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on April 21.

Ma said the commission will cooperate with the top legislature to amend clauses that are incompatible with current demands or contradict other regulations, and incorporate new items that have proved to be effective measures.

Core issues to be studied will include medical education, qualification and training of medical personnel, fostering rural doctors, and protecting the rights of doctors and patients.