Residents of Zhoupu Town, Pudong, will soon be able to consult top doctors at low costs at Shanghai International Medical Center, as the private hospital works to better serve local people.

The hospital said yesterday that it plans to invite the city’s top doctors on a regular basis for consultations next year. Zhoupu residents will be granted priority as appointments are limited.

The hospital is one of three high-end private hospitals to allow residents to use their city medical insurance.

Residents who see doctors at departments of internal medicine and surgery can have part of their medical bills settled by city insurance, with the rest paid in cash or through commercial insurance. From January, gynecology and oncology will be included.

“We provide high-end medical services, but we also have to think about our social responsibility and serve local people,” said hospital director Huang Yiran.

Zhoupu resident Zhang Jinwen, 71, went to the hospital for a checkup on Tuesday and came to pick up the medical report yesterday.

Her bill for outpatient services and medication was nearly 900 yuan (US$130), but nearly 700 yuan was covered by medical insurance.

“It’s so crowded in public hospitals. Here, the service is better and I don’t have to pay much more,” she said.