Shanxi province in North China has been consolidating its primary medical services by strengthening the development of a team of rural doctors and improving their service capabilities.

To supplement the number of qualified rural doctors in poverty stricken areas, Shanxi has hired 750 village doctors, deployed 555 doctors from counties and towns to villages and appointed 1,205 doctors paying rounds of regular visits to villagers. 

Meanwhile, measures have been taken to enhance the levels of service provided by village doctors. The province has carried out technical training, with the training coverage rate having reached 100 percent.

In addition, the province has been improving rural doctors' remuneration to attract more people to the posts. It has allocated more than 37 million yuan ($5.63 million) in subsidies for rural doctors' pensions and increased the monthly pension subsidy for retired rural doctors from 100 yuan to 200 yuan per person. 

Rural doctors currently stationed in 10 deeply impoverished counties are allowed to be included in the establishment of town health centers through examinations.