The city of Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province has launched a personalized medical service for residents with major illnesses, which is expected to provide cover for 2,246 families by the end of the year.

Qian Qihan, a 55-year-old man with intestinal cancer, pored over the medical service agreement word by word as he signed his name, becoming the first one in the city to enjoy the family medical service offered to residents with major illnesses.

As one of the 12 public welfare services the city has launched this year, the medical service includes a family doctor team, prescriptions, a home nursing course, diet and mental training, and a healthy service card featuring 1,000 yuan ($154) for medical treatment.

Qian appreciated the new medical service and thinks the whole family will be able to benefit from it, saving more than 10,000 yuan medical expenses each year.

Serving the innovation of the city's medical and health care reform, the newly launched medical service pledges to give sustainable support to local residents with major illnesses by providing convenient and efficient comprehensive healthcare, said Yu Hailiang, deputy director of the city's health development planning commission.

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)