Beijing frets over medical facilities

BEIJING, Dec 28 (Reuters) Beijing's medical system needs to be improved before the 2008 Olympic Games when the capital will host hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors and athletes, state media reported today.

''There are still some weak points in the medical system,'' the official Xinhua news agency quoted Jin Dapeng, director of the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau, as saying.

''For example, the skills and service quality of doctors and nurses need to be improved,'' Jin said, without elaborating.

Confidence in China's medical system has been battered by scandals over excessive charges, fake drugs, malpractice and a host of other problems.

But to help get ready for the Games, more than 20 of Beijing's top hospitals have been selected as special Olympic facilities, where doctors will receive training in English.

Beijing is attempting to raise the level of English across the city, where command of the language has traditionally been poor.

REUTERS PDS HT1507