Hohhot introduces electronic health cards

Guo Xixi from Tumd Left Banner displays his medical card, which includes a QR code, in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region on April 9. [Photo/nmgnews]

An unveiling ceremony for new electronic health cards was held at the Inner Mongolia Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Hohhot, capital of Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on April 9.

Guo Xixi, a farmer from Tumd Left Banner, became the first person in the city to receive a card during the ceremony.

The card contains a QR code that allows hospitals to access data about a patient's health and finances without needing to check their ID.

Locals can apply for the personal QR code via the WeChat account "Qingcheng Yiliao" after real-name authentication. They can then use it to access and pay for medical treatment in 17 secondary and tertiary medical institutions throughout the city. Data collected from patients will be used to build comprehensive medical records.

People can also obtain the card at medical institutions throughout the city.

According to the local government, 70 percent of Hohhot's population will be issued new medical cards by the end of the year.

The electronic medical cards are expected to improve medical services across the city.