Family medicine in China

The paper in this journal¹ made a full description on the past, present, and future of family medicine education and training in China. With regard to the future, the authors suggested that the Chinese National Degree Council should set up an application system of speciality family medicine for Masters Degrees and Doctors Degrees as soon as possible. Currently this suggestion has been adopted by some leading universities in the field of family medicine education in China, for example, Zhejiang University School of Medicine initiated establishing this in 2008. Students and researchers having Bachelors Degrees in public health and clinical medicine can apply for Masters Degrees in Family Medicine if they are qualified, that is having enough credit hours, publishing academic papers in peer-reviewed journals, and passing an oral examination. Likewise, students and researchers having a Masters Degree in the aforementioned field can apply for a Doctors Degree in Family Medicine if they are qualified in the above aspects. The establishment of this application system is very important for the sustainable development of family medicine in China. The future of family medicine education in China will be very promising.