Beijing’s first private mental health clinic opens

Beijing has opened its first private mental health clinic, aimed at breaking the monopoly of state-owned hospitals.

A report from Beijing said the clinic in downtown Beijing is the first private mental health medical institution approved by the health authorities.

It said presently there are a number of psychological counseling agencies in the city that only provided counseling services but not medical treatment.

It said the clinic was also China’s first mental health clinic to combine online and in-person services.

A government official said on condition of anonymity that 15 mental health experts from major Beijing hospitals would offer medical services at the clinic.

The source this was part of a move to encourage doctors to serve patients in multiple hospitals and clinics.

Reports say China has 4.3 million severely mentally ill patients on official record at the end of 2014.