With the adjustment of epidemic prevention and control measures, online services by hospitals in Nanjing have seen an increasing number of patients seeking consultations.

The online services by Nanjing's Gulou Hospital receive more than 500 patients each day, with a significant increase in COVID-19 consultations, said Qu Feng, deputy head of the Internet hospital section. More than 1,000 physicians from 50 departments are now ready to to answer all kinds of health questions via the Internet.

Qu also said the online hospital will soon open a clinic specially associated with COVID-19, which will promote health knowledge and also guide asymptomatic or mild cases to seek help first online in order to avoid an overwhelming strain on medical resources.

(Photo/Zhong Chongshan)

Recently, the Health Commission of Jiangsu Province has supported the online medical services by qualified hospitals, especially in respiratory, pediatrics, geriatrics and other related departments. More efforts are needed to enhance the online functions, provide online diagnostic services for some common and chronic diseases in patients' follow-up visits to their doctors, and deliver medicines to homes.

At present, Jiangsu has built 147 Internet hospitals with 27,979 physicians qualified for online diagnosis and treatment services and 4,515 recognized online nurses.