AB1278 Mobile device-aided health care: administration of new health care in china
Authors: Q. Lv, Y. Jiang, J. Qi, Y. Zhang, X. Zhang, Z. Liao, Z. Lin, J. Gu
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2018)

<h3>Background</h3> ,<sup>Till 2016</sup> the total population of mainland China has reached 1.38 billion, while there are only 2.21 licensed/assistant physicians per thousand people.<sup>1</sup> Another serious problem is uneven geographical distribution of medical resources. Less than 3% of general hospitals are responsible for more than 40% of medical service. Limited medical resources and distribution imbalance lead to countless of trans-provincial medical behaviours, resulting in an increase of economic cost and time cost. Meanwhile, China's mobile Internet communication is booming. By the end of 2016, there were 1.32 billion mobile phone users nationwide.<sup>2</sup> Based on these advantages, a new type of digital medical care has been developed rapidly in China. <h3>Objectives</h3> Our aim was to describe current situation of medical care and mobile medical care in China, and then to analyse medical big data to help manage chronic diseases such as rheumatic diseases. <h3>Methods</h3> Distribution and number of medical resources were acquired by the website of National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China and National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China.<i>7</i> biggest digital medical services and other healthcare websites or applications were compared in the aspects of application function, numbers and distribution of registered doctors and patients, and chronic disease management. <h3>Results</h3> According to different stages of medical interventions, operation modes of digital medical services can be divided into different types. Major functions encompass reservation, payment and medical consultancy. 3% of applications involve the management of chronic diseases. Many mobile medical platforms rely on doctors from comprehensive hospitals. Patients with definitive diagnosis and initial treatment could be managed and followed-up via the platform. This Internet management mode of chronic diseases currently attracts 3 89 407 specialists from comprehensive hospitals and 8 95 921 patients with chronic diseases. Although the number of registered doctors in the southeastern areas is absolutely higher, many doctors are more accepting Internet-based medical practice in relatively poor western regions. The proportion of physicians and patient with chronic diseases is very large. The top 5 departments of registered users are related to chronic diseases. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Limited medical and health resources and distribution imbalance is a serious problem in China. A new mode of digital medical service may help manage chronic diseases. <h3>References</h3> [1] National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China [Internet]. Peking: National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China. c2017 – [cited 2017 Nov. 6]. Available from: http://www.nhfpc.gov.cn/ [2] Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China [Internet]. Peking: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China. c2017 – [cited 2017 Nov. 6]. Available from: http://www.miit.gov.cn/ <h3>Acknowledgements</h3> None. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> Q. Lv: None declared, Y. Jiang: None declared, J. Qi: None declared, Y. Zhang: None declared, X. Zhang: None declared, Z. Liao Grant/research support from: National Natural Sciences Foundation of China [grant number 81201372], Z. Lin Grant/research support from: National Natural Science Foundation for the Youth NSFY of China (Grant No. 81302583), Guangdong Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar<sup>Grant No. 2014</sup>A030306039), high-level personnel of special support program for Technology Innovative Talents and the Top Young of Guangdong Province<sup>Grant No. 2015</sup>TQ01R516), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (16ykzd05), Distinguished Young Scholar Candidates Programme for The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, and the Pearl River Nova Program of Guangzhou (Grant No. 201610010005)., J. Gu Grant/research support from: the 5010 Subject of Sun Yat-sen University (2007023)