Jiang Shuguang, doctor in charge of the radiology department at Putuo Hospital in Zhoushan, volunteers to assist Wanyuan Central Hospital in Wanyuan county, Sichuan province this year. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]

Jiang Shuguang, doctor in charge of the radiology department at Putuo Hospital in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, volunteered to assist Wanyuan Central Hospital in Wanyuan county, Sichuan province in March this year.

"As there are few patients, treatment facilities have become simply a decoration," said Jiang, who is still struggling with the stark reality despite mentally preparing for it.

For example, just 20 or so patients have received the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination per day, which doesn't even account for 10 percent of the total number of patients receiving MRI examinations at hospitals in Zhoushan.

Some doctors don't even know how to analyze the MRI results, even though it is a necessary part of diagnosis and treatment, according to Jiang.

Jiang has been training doctors in his department at Wanyuan Central Hospital in professional theories and sharing his experiences in Zhoushan with them.

Thanks to his efforts, these doctors have seen a marked improvement in their professional skills, and the number of patients receiving MRI examinations has increased.

Since March, Jiang has reviewed more than 3,000 MRI reports, one third of which were illnesses that were difficult to diagnose.

Wang Neng is Jiang's predecessor from the radiology department at Putuo Hospital, who said that there were no MRI facilities when he arrived at the hospital.

Wang persuaded the hospital to purchase MRI facilities and taught local doctors how to use them.

"The two doctors have offered us not only their medical expertise, but also their ethical code," noted Su Yongquan, director of the radiology department at Wanyuan Central Hospital.