After a trial operation, the Internet hospital of the Luohu Hospital Group was launched on Feb. 3. [sznews.com]

After a trial operation, the Internet hospital of the Luohu Hospital Group was launched on Feb. 3.

Medical consultations are provided around the clock on the platform, and the medicines prescribed by doctors can be purchased online and delivered to the patient\'s home.

The move can effectively avoid people having to go to hospitals, which can help curb the spread of the pneumonia-causing novel coronavirus.

Patients with chronic diseases, in particular, are already speaking highly of this practice.

The Luohu Hospital Group started building the system in April 2019, and it obtained the license for Internet hospital after passing relevant assessment in December. It then began trial operation on Dec 15.

According to Sun Xizhuo, president of the hospital group, nearly 600 doctors have completed the registration process to practice via the Internet.

The people using the online hospital can test their blood samples in any branch of the hospital group near their home, and ultrasonic testing, electro-cardiogram and X-ray inspection on physical examination vehicles sent out by the hospital group to various localities.

Chen Jialin, director of information center of the Luohu Hospital Group, said the Internet could make the communication between doctors and patients more efficient so that the limited medical care resources become accessible to more people.

"The internet hospital also promotes information sharing and coordinates operations of different hospitals."

Meanwhile, Sun said: "The Internet is a modern platform, and the group will take advantage of it to integrate its offline and online services in order to better serve the people."

The hospital group will continue to offer and improve the Internet hospital after the epidemic of the novel coronavirus is brought under control, Sun added.