Medical Education

There has been dramatic growth in enrollment in China’s medical universities over the last decade.  In 1998, there were 53,000 medical students; ten years later, in 2007, there were 174,000.  But quantity does not translate directly into qualified medical professionals to match the human resource needs of the rapidly changing health sector.  Graduates of China’s medical universities often have sound medical knowledge and a high level of professionalism, but lack skills in population health, communications, and willingness for rural service.  Underlying problems in medical education include too few experienced teachers, stagnant curricula, and limited available funding.

CMB’s involvement in medical education in China goes back to its earliest days, when it supported the establishment of Peking Union Medical College.  It has started four major centers on medical education, located at Central South University, China Medical University, Sichuan University, and Peking Union Medical College.  It continues to support efforts in medical education, including nursing and public health education.  Current grant-making is designed to help universities match professional competencies in medicine, nursing, and public health with the country’s changing health landscape.