Maximising the potential of the National Compulsory Service Programme in rural China: a mixed methods study

Abstract Abstract: Objectives: To alleviate the shortage of qualified physicians in rural areas, since 2010, the Chinese government has launched a National Compulsory Service Programme (NCSP) to enrol medical students for future work in township health centres (THCs) as general practitioners (GPs). The educational background of NCSP GPs is the best at THCs. This study aims to evaluate whether NCSP GPs have contributed to improving the quality of patient care at THCs and in what way. Design: This is an