Nanjing suspended outpatient services provided by medical institutions rated lower than primary Grade-I and other designated department services at hospitals of higher level on February 5 to curb the spread of new coronavirus.

According to the Nanjing Circular No. 7, issued by the Nanjing New Coronavirus-Infected Pneumonia Joint Prevention and Control Command, medical institutions with smaller scales and independent establishments below Grade-I, such as internal medicine clinics, beauty clinics, traditional Chinese medicine clinics, and private clinics are required to suspend medical service. Grade-II and Grade-III hospitals can receive outpatients as normal except for the special departments specified in the notice. However, operations of all community health service centers remain unaffected to meet basic medical needs.

The announcement also requires a suspension of diagnosis and treatment programs in stomatology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and plastic (cosmetic) surgery provided by specialized and general hospitals in the Nanjing area. Only emergency diagnosis and treatment should be retained on condition that infection prevention and control measures are implemented in strict accordance with standards. But people don’t have to worry too much as the above-mentioned services are still available for emergencies such as acute trauma.

"In the past, patients with chronic heart disease, hypertension and other illness could get prescribed medicine to last up to only two weeks at a time, but can now receive up to two months of medication," said a person in charge at Jiangsu Province Hospital. But when blood tests, medical imaging and other tests are needed, patients still have to come to the hospital.

Most of the Grade-III hospitals have opened online clinics, so patients with chronic non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease can get diagnosed through the internet without going to the hospital. And they will get prescriptions enabling them to buy the medicine at a pharmacy.

In addition, internet hospitals in Nanjing are launching fever services as soon as possible. All medical institutions will strengthen distribution of disease information through the Internet, apps and WeChat public accounts, guiding individuals in self-protection and telling them whether or not they need medical treatment.

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