Slow reform of China's health-care system has received a shot in the arm after a weekend conference closed with a promise of increased foreign investment.
Only a handful of joint venture hospitals have been allowed to open in China but Vice-Minister of Health Wang Longde promised to speed up the commercialisation of health care.
'As reforms are carried out, competition among hospitals will become more fierce and administration will be stricter and more scientific,' Mr Wang said.
By the middle of next year, China's 16,600 hospitals will be separated into commercial and non-profit hospitals.
A medical insurance system which is slowly being introduced into a few big cities will allow some flexibility to choose which hospital to attend.
Commercial hospitals with high-quality service and well-paid staff will be allowed to poach the best doctors and attract the richest patients.
