Shinan district in Qingdao has made continuous efforts to improve its medical service system by allocating more resources to sub-districts and communities to offer more convenient and efficient medical services to local residents, Shinan News reported.

A traditional Chinese medicine department was recently set up at the health service center of Fuqinglu community. It was designed to be an extension of the TCM department of the Shinan District People's Hospital.

Before its establishment, local residents could only seek TCM treatment in big hospitals, which are often crowded with patients.

"Seventy percent of the TCM treatment cost in the community health service center can be covered by the social medical insurance program, which is more than that in hospitals," said a local resident surnamed Huang. "Moreover, patients won't have to wait in long lines here."

To meet the increasing demands of elderly care, the Shinan District People's Hospital has also introduced special nursing services for seniors who are bedridden.

"Different from ordinary nursing institutions, we merge medical treatment, rehabilitation and elderly care to bring more convenient and comprehensive services to seniors," said Guan Chunyan, vice-president of the hospital.