A total of 112 community health service centers and another 80 health service stations have been built in Harbin.

People in every community have the capability to see a doctor within a 15 minute bus ride, according to Harbin health and family planning commission.

More than 3 million people enjoyed community medical services in 2015, 142 times the number of people receiving community medical services in 2007, the commission said.

The Harbin health and family planning commission has now launched a hierarchical medical system. With the “1+2+3” hierarchical medical service platform, Harbin residents can enjoy better physical examinations and health consultations.

For the hierarchical medical services, “1” refers to primary hospitals, mainly community health service centers that provide medical care services such as disease prevention and health care; “2” means secondary hospitals that can provide comprehensive medical care services to different communities; and “3” refers to those tertiary hospitals that can provide high-level and professional medical services.

With the hierarchical medical service, a new medical treatment combo will be established. Basic medical care institutions will be backed to provide additional and better services.

These basic medical treatment institutions will target special groups such as the elderly and patients with chronic diseases. On-the-spot services will be provided, along with appointments for doctors and transfer treatments.

As of 2016, about 20 percent of Harbin’s urban residents have sign contracts with basic medical treatment institutions to receive treatment. Meanwhile, the proportion of the elderly and those with chronic diseases is increasing, currently reaching 58 percent.