The concept of a “Medical Mall” has created a new stir in China. Medical industry observers are suggesting the one-stop hospital will complement China’s existing healthcare system, with patient’s safety remaining the bottom line, reports jiemian.com.

Located in a shopping center in Hangzhou, the mall is a mix of specialist outpatient services, making it possible for patients to access one-stop medical services all in one place.

A total of 13 clinics have reportedly signed up for the mall, with 10 starting trial operations.

These medical outlets are able to share space, equipment, operating theaters and other resources, adopting the sharing economy concept.

First started in the U.S. in the 1980s, the concept of medical malls is not new. However, the Hangzhou project has drawn nationwide attention since gaining government approvals.

Some are applauding the idea, saying it will provide easier access to more cost-effective medical services, as well as help relieve China’s overburdened public health care system.

However, others question whether the commercial institutions will be able to balance profits with the public interest.

There are also concerns being raised about the level of medical treatment, regulations and insurance.

Yu Xindong, an official with the Zhejiang Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission, while supporting the “Medical Mall” model, says patient’s safety remains the essential red line.

“The ‘medical mall’ model helps non-governmental sectors to operate medical facilities with lower costs. Authorities need to give the concept room to grow, but also keep medical safety a bottom line,” said Yu.

China has been encouraging private-sector involvement in the health care industry. In May, the State Council issued a document, vowing to build a “diversified” health care system by offering private capital easier access to the industry.

Private hospitals now account for more than 57 percent of all hospitals in China.

The concept of a “Medical Mall” has created a new stir in China. Medical industry observers are suggesting the one-stop hospital will complement China’s existing healthcare system, with patient’s safety remaining the bottom line, reports jiemian.com.

Located in a shopping center in Hangzhou, the mall is a mix of specialist outpatient services, making it possible for patients to access one-stop medical services all in one place.

A total of 13 clinics have reportedly signed up for the mall, with 10 starting trial operations.

These medical outlets are able to share space, equipment, operating theaters and other resources, adopting the sharing economy concept.

First started in the U.S. in the 1980s, the concept of medical malls is not new. However, the Hangzhou project has drawn nationwide attention since gaining government approvals.

Some are applauding the idea, saying it will provide easier access to more cost-effective medical services, as well as help relieve China’s overburdened public health care system.

However, others question whether the commercial institutions will be able to balance profits with the public interest.

There are also concerns being raised about the level of medical treatment, regulations and insurance.

Yu Xindong, an official with the Zhejiang Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission, while supporting the “Medical Mall” model, says patient’s safety remains the essential red line.

“The ‘medical mall’ model helps non-governmental sectors to operate medical facilities with lower costs. Authorities need to give the concept room to grow, but also keep medical safety a bottom line,” said Yu.

China has been encouraging private-sector involvement in the health care industry. In May, the State Council issued a document, vowing to build a “diversified” health care system by offering private capital easier access to the industry.

Private hospitals now account for more than 57 percent of all hospitals in China.

Scientists from eastern China’s Zhejiang Province have used genomic analysis to uncover how weeds suppress the growth of other plants.

The research, headed by professor Fan Longjiang with the College of Agriculture and Biotechnology of Zhejiang University, was published in the journal Nature Communications last week.

“Allelopathy through the release of chemical compounds in the rhizosphere is one of the most important features of weeds,” Fan wrote in the report.

From a species of weed in the paddy field, they have in the genome identified three copies of gene clusters involved in production of an allelochemical used against rice and one copy of a phytoalexin gene cluster used against blast disease.

“Beyond purely academic interests, uncovering how weeds evolve is crucial for their management and the protection of the global food supply,” said the professor.

He noted that allelopathy could be an alternative weed management strategy with a lower environmental cost.

Chinese scientists announced Tuesday the discovery of the biosynthesis mechanism of cordycepin, a cancer-resisting extraction from caterpillar fungus.

Cordycepin was normally extracted from the fungus cordyceps militaris but cannot be produced by regular cordyceps sinensis, according to a statement from a Shanghai-based research team.

Their research found that biosynthesis of cordycepin is coupled with pentostatin production by a single gene cluster.

Pentostatin is currently used as an anticancer chemotherapeutic drug.

The study demonstrated that this coupling is an important point of metabolic regulation where pentostatin safeguards cordycepin from deamination.

Deamination will happen when cordycepin reaches self-toxic levels in fungus, and there may be potential harm if people take too much cordycepin, said the statement.

An article about their findings has been published online by Cell Chemical Biology.

Top leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will meet the press Wednesday morning.

Members of the Standing Committee of the 19th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, who will be elected at the first plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, are scheduled to meet Chinese and foreign journalists at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing at about 11:45 a.m. Wednesday.

The meeting will be streamed live on China.org.cn.