It's not surprising the medical community has little enthusiasm for the old public system. It has become a nuisance for hospitals to be involved in legal matters regarding misdiagnosis. In addition, the system discourages medical students who see too much work for too little reward.

As the population becomes richer and more educated, they gain the power of choice. The old system, where patients are hastily treated without thorough diagnosis, is outmoded by today's standards.

Over the weekend, my wife was invited to attend an early education class. In a nicely decorated, baby-friendly room, five parents with their toddlers listened as an instructor trained them in communication techniques.

Other in-vogue options include baby swimming, starting when infants are as young as 4 days, and ever-popular music classes. Fees for such programs in Beijing can range from 8000 RMB for a normal class to up to 50,000 RMB for VIP lessons.

This spike in early childhood education and activity programs is proof that demand exists for premium services in China's cities. There is no doubt that parents will pay for premium pediatric care for their children if given the option.

Some pediatric hospitals have started to respond to the exploding demand for quality care. Hunan Province has already merged and created public hospitals dedicated solely to maternity and children, such as the Hunan Provincial Children's Hospital. Other hospitals will have to adapt and improve if they want a piece of the pie.

Hopefully the closing of some pediatric wards in Beijing will encourage hospitals to follow Hunan's example. In the long run, providing a more personal and sympathetic service despite the extra cost to patients will prove more profitable than revenue solely from drugs, and will add a much-needed human element to China's health care system.

The author is a Canadian living and teaching in Central China's Hunan Province.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.