Vice Premier Wu Yi said on Monday that the community-based health care system should be further improved to benefit more people.

The major criterion for assessing community medical services is whether people living in the communities are satisfied with the services or not, Wu said while inspecting community clinics in Beijing.

"It's the government's duty to keep improving community-based medical services, which offer those who cannot afford expensive hospital bills convenient access to healthcare," Wu said.

She spoke highly of the performance of Beijing's community clinics, saying residents have benefited from improved service, better networks and lower charges.

She urged local governments to work out measures to attract more firms, social organizations and individuals to contribute to community medical services.

China's health care at community level and in rural areas has long suffered from a lack of doctors.

Earlier reports said that about 80 percent of China's two million registered doctors work in cities, and 80 percent of them work in major hospitals.

(Xinhua News Agency May 2, 2007)