More students pick medicine as major as pandemic changes attitudes

Relatively few Chinese undergraduates major in medicine－so much so that there's a sardonic saying among high school graduates and parents: "Those who persuade others to go to medical school will be struck by lightning."

The COVID-19 pandemic, however, may be a catalyst for change.

This autumn semester, many universities nationwide noticed growing enthusiasm for medical majors as the national fight against the pandemic put a spotlight on the profession.

Zhang Shuyang, Party secretary of Peking Union Medical College Hospital and vice-president of the prestigious Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, said that applications to the college and its partner academy at Tsinghua University this year increased by 30 percent compared with last year.

"The fight against the disease has enhanced people's reverence for life and improved the relationship between doctors and patients. A better ecology is taking shape," she said.

Wang Ying, head of undergraduate admissions at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei province, said more high scorers have opted for medical majors this year.

"About one in 10 students that we enrolled this year made medical studies their first choice in their applications," she said.

"The disease outbreak is certainly a key driver of the change. In the past, many students tended to prioritize such factors as future earnings and career prospects when choosing majors.

"But a growing number of the students aspire to help others and contribute to national rejuvenation through science majors, including medicine," Wang said.

Song Juan, an admissions officer with the School of Medicine at Wuhan University, also told The Beijing News that the epidemic has fueled interest in medical studies and fostered a more favorable environment for medical practitioners.

"We had expected this year's admission outlook to be unsatisfactory since the city was hit hard by the virus. But, to our surprise, high school graduates did not shun Wuhan," she said.

"That's probably because the admirable acts of role models who emerged during the outbreak deeply moved the youth."

The Chinese Medical Doctor Association says most of the 80 recipients of this year's Chinese Physician Prize－the highest honor for the country's medical workers－fought on the front line against COVID-19. The list was released in mid-August.

Chen Shicong, a freshman at the School of Medicine at Wuhan University, said she drew strength from renowned respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan, who was awarded the Medal of the Republic, the country's highest honor, for the outstanding contributions he made to stemming the outbreak.

"Fighting the epidemic in his 80s demanded exceptional courage and determination. He led by example, showing that being a good doctor requires not only professional skills but also empathy and devotion. I deeply respect him," she said.

Chen said she found her classmates share similar goals.

"Going to a medical school reflects our desire to save lives and help others and thus achieve selfworth," she said.

"Many of us had moments of hesitation because of rigorous learning and training programs. But the selfless acts of medical workers across the country touched us and demonstrated the possibility of forming genuine connections between patients and doctors," she said.

Healthcare work is often associated with long hours and high pressure in China.

Wang Chen, president of Peking Union Medical College, said during an interview last year that even medical workers, whose children are more prone to major in medicine, do not want their children to be doctors.

The Chinese Medical Doctor Association said in a 2011 survey that over 78 percent of surveyed physicians were unwilling to send their children to medical schools.

World Bank data showed there were about 2.1 physicians per 1,000 people in the country, compared with the average of 3.1 in high-income countries.

"It is a worrying and unprecedented phenomenon that should raise concern. To brighten the career outlooks for doctors and improve relevant social environments must be stressed and acted upon," Wang said.

Cai Wentai, whose parents are both healthcare workers, is part of a growing force reversing the trend. He is now enrolled at the clinical medicine program at Huazhong University of Science and Technology's Tongji Medical College.

"I found the idea of becoming a doctor interesting from a very young age but felt conflicted because other subjects like mathematics and psychology also appeal to me," the 19-year-old said.

During the epidemic, Cai said he sensed a shortage of talent in the healthcare system and made up his mind to follow in his parents' footsteps. "Even though my power is limited, I am willing to contribute to the best of my capacity," he said.

His father, Cai Kailin, is the head of the gastrointestinal surgery department in Wuhan Union Hospital and worked in one of the temporary treatment centers in the city during the epidemic.

His mother, Xiong Lijuan, who specializes in controlling hospital-acquired infections, contracted the coronavirus in late January but returned to the front line upon recovery.

"I think stories of committed medical workers have spread more awareness about their hard work," Cai Wentai said. "My parents believe that the doctor-patient relationship has actually improved a lot in recent years. With proper communication and mutual understanding, it will not be a major concern."

Cai Kailin said: "As a doctor, I have witnessed life-or-death struggles and know the path to becoming a doctor is arduous. As a father, I hope my son will realize the value of life by answering the needs of the times."

The epidemic has exposed weaknesses in China's healthcare system and brought more attention to the development of medical capacity.

The country is also stepping up support for medical education.

Weng Tiehui, vice-minister of education, said during a news conference in late February that Chinese universities will expand admissions for graduate students pursuing master's degree this year, and clinical medicine and public health are among majors that will be taken into account when selecting students for the expanded enrollment.

On Sept 24, the General Office of the State Council also issued a guideline to accelerate the development of the country's medical education. The document calls for strong efforts to develop specialties in short supply, such as anesthesiology, infectious diseases, intensive care and pediatrics, as well as training more general practitioners and public health workers.

Liu Shuya, a high school graduate from Jiangsu province, left home for Chongqing Medical University in September to study clinical medicine.

She said a promising career outlook was part of the reason she chose to major in medicine.

"The epidemic has taught us a painful lesson about the consequences of having an overstretched healthcare system amid an emergency. I believe both government officials and the public will attach greater importance to medical education," she said.

"I had never seriously considered majoring in medicine until I was deeply motivated by the spirit of front-line doctors and nurses. I also had to take the job market and future earnings into account. My parents and I believe doctors will become better paid and more respected in the future."

Recruiting and retaining healthcare talent requires more than the promotion of "positive energy" and "good hearts", doctors have said.

Tong Zhaohui, who's a key figure in treating severe COVID-19 cases and vice-president of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, said the outpouring of praise for medical workers and the booming interest in medicine majors also occurred after the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003. But it subsided in a few years.

"Whether during an emergency or in normal times, medical workers should be understood and respected by society and receive adequate income and benefits," he said.

Tong said medical students usually undergo 14 years of training and residency before becoming a qualified doctor.

"We should improve their income and benefits from an earlier stage, so they can be properly nurtured and have an opportunity to grow into senior experts," he said.

Tao Yong, director of the ophthalmology department of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, was seriously injured in a knife attack in late January.

He said more protections, such as security checkpoints, should be installed at hospitals to foster a safer and healthier environment.

A 2013 Chinese Medical Doctor Association survey showed the average number of attacks targeting medical workers per hospital increased from 20.6 in 2008 to 27.3 in 2012.

"Whoever assaults doctors should be flagged in the social credit system and pay the price for their wrongdoing," he added.

"Also, more campaigns can be rolled out to educate people about the benefits of maintaining harmonious doctor-patient relationships."