As a newly elected deputy from southwest China's Sichuan Province, Li Weimin has made healthcare a priority of his political work. Our reporter Liu Yang has the details.  

While researching his proposal in a community health center, newly elected NPC deputy Li Weimin, suggested this 70- year-old patient with a lung infection should have more check-ups in West China Hospital - where Li is president.

Based in Sichuan's Chengdu city, the West China hospital is one of the best in China. It has taken the lead in forming "Regional Medical Alliance". This allows patients, instead of lining up in big hospitals, to first be treated in a community health care center, be seen again in the hospital if necessary, and then return to the local center for treatment until they are fully recovered. This is called "hierarchical diagnosis". For better implementation, it requires coordination between various policies.

Will this be the proposal NPC member Li Weimin submits to Beijing? To allow him better represent local opinion, he must do more research. Back in the West China Hospital, doctors from various fields discuss the issue. Over half suggest improving the quality of healthcare in the ethnic minority living area should be the focus of Li's proposal.

LI WEIMIN, PRESIDENT WEST CHINA HOSPITAL "I propose to focus on the shortage of excellent elite doctors in ethnic minority living area. I would like to propose two ideas: first, to establish the "Regional Medical Alliance" in ethnic minority living area. All of the "first class" or top hospitals in China will take the lead, and form a close alliance with hospitals in counties, cities, and autonomous regions in the area. In the alliance, the management of human resources and other policies, such as performance review for doctors are all similar. Second, setting up a long-term incentive mechanism for elite doctors working in ethnic minority regions. Any promotions for elite doctors must be related to whether or not they have served in the ethnic minority region hospitals."

Li Weimin visited local hospitals in Ganzi Tibet Autonomous Prefecture in western Sichuan last year. While China invested heavily in healthcare facilities in the ethnic minority region, to train local doctors and for them to develop their medical knowledge and skills take a long time.

Li Weimin says Sichuan has all of China's ethnic groups living in the region. He believes it is his duty to further promote the development of medical services, and play his part in building a healthy China. Liu Yang, CGTN, Sichuan Province.