Success Story

OBSTETRIC UNIT WITHIN A PREMIERE HOSPITAL IN CHINA

OPPORTUNITY:   The Chinese healthcare scenario is undergoing a marked change with the rising demand for high-quality medical services by the increasingly affluent and health-conscious population of China. The One-Child policy implemented by the Chinese government has given impetus to the desire of the prospective parents to seek premium maternity services where their child could be delivered. The current healthcare delivery systems, especially in major cities of China, are unable to cope up with such expectations of the economically well-to-do segment of the population.

ACTIONS:  United Premier Medical Group Ltd (UPMG), a medical services company promoted by Dr. Herbert Wong, sought the consultancy of the Johns Hopkins Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology to provide the protocols, procedures, training and quality systems to establish special maternity units within existing hospitals in China. Johns Hopkins International facilitated this knowledge transfer project and entered into an agreement with UPMG to provide such consultancy to their projects in select cities of China. UPMG selected International Peace Maternity and Child Health hospital (IPMCH) in Shanghai as the first project venue and the unit with 11 beds was inaugurated in October 2002.  The Johns Hopkins team headed by Dr. Harold Fox, Chairman of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, took a significant interest in this project and has made several visits to China to oversee its implementation. Physicians and Nurses from IPMCH have visited the department at Johns Hopkins for observership and training.

RESULTS:  Since its opening in October 2002, the unit has delivered over 200 babies and is increasingly popular among the residents of Shanghai. The medical and nursing fraternity of IPMCH is being exposed to quality systems and clinical practice implemented by the Hopkins team. Apart from being involved in the unit, the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Department iof Gynecology and Obstetrics is enthused by its exposure to and understanding of the Chinese healthcare environment. Following the success of the first unit in Shanghai, UPMG is embarking on the second project in Guangzhong and plans to set up two more units in the current year.