The Internet Hospital of Shanxi Provincial Cardiovascular Hospital officially began to treat patients on June 11, becoming the first internet hospital in North China's Shanxi province to be put into service. 

Relying on the Health Shanxi online medical service platform and Sinopharm Shanxi medicine logistics distribution platform, the internet hospital provides chronically ill patients with online medical diagnoses and treatments, health consultations, drug distribution and other medical services.

The internet hospital has opened two departments for cardiovascular medicine and medical return visits covered by medical insurance. 

"Doctors in the two departments give priority to online medical services," said Han Xuebin, president of Shanxi Provincial Cardiovascular Hospital.

"Patients can pay the medical expenses using the WeChat and Alipay online payment platforms, bank cards or Taiyuan city's individual accounts with medical insurance and pick up medicine at the hospital or choose express delivery," Han added.

Moving forwards, the internet hospital will open more departments -- including internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology and stomatology -- as well as psychiatric clinics in succession. 

Clinicians in the Shanxi Provincial Cardiovascular Hospital who have worked over three years will be on duty at the internet hospital. 

During the novel coronavirus pandemic control and prevention period, internet-based medical services -- such as online medical consultations and telemedicine -- have played an active role.

They have showcased the advantages of using the internet -- reducing the time it takes for patients to get treatment and preventing crowds gathering in hospitals, as well improving the efficiency of medical services and increasing patient satisfaction. 

Officials said the opening of Shanxi Provincial Cardiovascular Hospital's internet hospital was the first step in the construction of internet hospitals in Shanxi province.

According to the Shanxi Health Commission, the province will give full play to internet hospitals and expand channels for medicine distribution to offer more convenient services to patients.