The practice of medical groups in China only emerged in recent years. It's when a number of doctors come together, they can carry out medical treatments independently, without being employed by any public or private hospital. Such a move is unconventional, but could it become a game-changer amidst the current medical reform?

This is a picture of China's first union of doctor groups. A group of pioneers. Doctor Song Donglei is one of them. Unlike most of his peers, he can work as a private practitioner while also cooperating with many hospitals. As one of the pioneers, he has done more than two hundred surgeries for the past six months, the number proves his value in the market.

"I set up my own brain doctor group six months ago after worked for both public and private hospitals. Based on my own experience, I can work better as a private practitioner. I feel less bonded compared to doctors who are still in the system. I'm more focused and I feel more valued," Doctor Song said.

Being able to focus more on his specialties and more time spent with the patients, the feedback is mutual.

"I feel the service is really good. My wife who's the patient has been taken good care of by the nurses and doctors. They are highly efficient. We'll leave the hospital two days later and we will stay in touch with the doctor via internet to have remote consultation," Husband of patient Mr. Zhang said.

So far, Doctor Song's group has attracted six brain doctors on board and established cooperation with four hospitals in Shanghai. The number is expected to increase with their development.

"We run a public hospital. We are glad to accept more doctor groups like Doctor Song's group because it means more opportunities for patients to talk with the top notch doctors. Also, our hospital has less burden on number of patients, we have enough beds in our hospital and we can provide great facilities to the doctor which will share the burden for those three-grade hospital," Dr. Liu Weidong, president of Shanghai Punan Hospital, siad.

The fact, however, is that Punan Hospital is the first and the only public hospital in the city ever working with the group of private medical practitioner.

The current mode is known as PHP which stands for Physician Hospital Partnership. The doctor group signs contracts with different hospitals, most are private ones. Hospital provides resources such as operation room, nurses, anesthesia, etc. The doctor group helps find surgeons, patients and assisting staff.

"The fact here in China is that patients can't go with a doctor, but rather have to go with a hospital. Because public health insurance can only be used in government-approved hospitals. For all the doctor groups, it is still difficult to work with public hospitals as there's no relevant policies of the cooperation. Government has to work on new insurance coverage or add in commercial insurance to give doctor groups more room to grow," Doctor Song said.

Just before Doctor Song got ready for his surgery, he said his vision of his own group is to go back to the duty of a doctor.

Being one of the pioneers, the road ahead is not clear yet. But with patience and confidence, he believes it will be sure to lead to a bright path.