Tales of hospital angst

"Good hospitals for children are always packed with people, and we are so busy seeing more than 100 patients a day," says Jiang Yuwu, director of the pediatrics department of Peking University First Hospital.

"Parents complain that doctors only spend one to two minutes on their children, say a few words, and are irresponsible. But for those of us with 100 patients a day, if we spend too much time on one patient, we can't finish our work, and it is unfair to others.

"We have to be focused and fast, but we are just humans, and we become tired and irritated because of work overload day in, day out."

K. K. Cheng, the public health expert, who is also dean of the general practice department with Peking University Health Science Center, comments that in the world's most recognized children's hospitals in countries such as Canada, Britain and the United States, the lines are not so long because those hospitals are only for patients with severe or complex conditions.

"It is time to adopt an alternative model that strengthens primary care and community-based hospitals and clinics," Cheng says.