Wow 3 weeks have passed in a flash! It’s so weird to think that the first session of classes is almost over. I’m amazed as I think back on how much I’ve already done in Beijing and excited for more adventure in Beijing.
This past Monday the Public Health class visited Desheng Community Health Center and then on Friday we went to see Peking University Third Hospital, two very different environments. In our Public Health class we learned that when most people in China get sick and want to see a doctor they’ll go to the hospital, even for something like a cold. As a consequence, the hospitals in China are very crowded while the community hospitals are much emptier. We experienced this for ourselves since at Desheng we just saw a few patients. It actually seemed like one of the least crowded places I’ve seen in China (!).
A class photo at Desheng Community Health Center
In contrast, at PKU’s hospital, there were people everywhere who were either waiting to see a doctor or who were family members going to see a relative. Our guide for our trip told us to walk closely together so that we wouldn’t get lost. One amazing fact we learned at the hospital is that one doctor can see up to 60 patients in half a day, with each patient visit lasting around 4-5 minutes.
At both sites, we also got a look at traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which was a good precursor for the TCM class we’ll be taking for the next 4 weeks. Most health care facilities in China use a combination of Western medicine and TCM to treat their patients. At Desheng, we got to see some treatments like acupuncture and cupping and at Peking University Third Hospital we visited the inside of their TCM pharmacy. It was quite an interesting experience and definitely not something you’d see in America.
Making herbal treatments for patients inside the TCM pharmacy