Assistant Lecturer from Cihan University–Erbil Participates in Training Program on China’s Primary Healthcare System and Healthcare Reforms
Assistant Lecturer Hero Ismael Mohammed from the Biomedical Sciences Department at Cihan University–Erbil participated in the international training program entitled “Capacity Building for Primary Healthcare Services in Developing Countries,” held in Chengdu, China, from 17 June to 7 July 2026. The program brought together healthcare professionals and academics from several countries to examine successful approaches to primary healthcare delivery, health policy, healthcare management, and digital health innovation.
As part of the training program, participants attended a lecture entitled “The Empowering Role of Provincial Hospitals in Tiered Healthcare Practice: Reflections from Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital,” presented by Prof. Dr. Xiang Yang, Chief Physician and Deputy Director of Medical Affairs at Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, on 21 June 2026 at Jin Rong Hotel in Chengdu.
During the lecture, Prof. Xiang provided a comprehensive overview of the evolution of China’s tiered healthcare system from 1941 to 2026. He discussed key healthcare reform strategies aimed at strengthening primary healthcare services, including the implementation of a two-way referral system, the separation of acute and chronic disease management, and the vertical integration of healthcare institutions. He emphasized that patients can access healthcare services at different levels of the system according to their needs, with service delivery guided by national healthcare policies.
Prof. Xiang also highlighted Chengdu’s healthcare infrastructure, emphasizing the significant contribution of community healthcare institutions and general practitioners in ensuring accessible and effective primary healthcare services for the population. The program also included a seminar entitled “Overview of China’s Primary Healthcare Service System,” delivered by Prof. Dr. Fang Xiaoming, Director of the Primary Health Department of the Health Commission of Sichuan Province.
In his presentation, Prof. Fang outlined the organizational structure of China’s primary healthcare system, describing township health centers, community health centers, and village clinics as the cornerstones of grassroots healthcare services. He further explained the relationship between primary healthcare institutions and hospitals, stressing the importance of strengthening coordination and integration among different levels of care to improve healthcare accessibility and efficiency.
Additionally, Prof. Fang discussed the medical education pathway in China, noting that students enter medical school after completing twelve years of general education, followed by five years of medical studies and three years of standardized clinical training before qualifying as physicians.
The seminar also highlighted China’s ongoing healthcare reforms, which aim to shift healthcare delivery from a disease-centered model to a health-centered approach. These reforms include enhancing service quality and standardization, promoting integrated county-level healthcare systems, strengthening collaboration between county hospitals and township health centers, and implementing unified healthcare management frameworks. The sessions concluded with an interactive discussion that enabled participants to exchange experiences and perspectives on primary healthcare challenges and development strategies in their respective countries. The discussions fostered valuable international collaboration and knowledge sharing, contributing to a deeper understanding of contemporary approaches to primary healthcare development.
