Starting January 1, 2026, all public medical institutions in Guangdong have implemented the "one registration valid for 3 days" service for general outpatient visits. Patients can receive free follow-up consultations in the same department within three days of the initial visit for test result interpretation and subsequent diagnosis without the need to re-register, saving both time and costs.
As a pilot institution, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital took the lead in June 2025 by optimizing the policy to "one registration valid for 7 days," which includes specialist outpatient clinics. By the end of 2025, the measure had benefited 2,682 patients and waived a total of 66,530 yuan in registration fees.
Hospitals have introduced various follow-up booking methods. The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine provides on-site follow-up numbers at triage desks; Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital adopts an "in-consultation booking" model, where follow-up appointments are arranged directly by the attending doctor during the initial visit; and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University offers online booking, allowing patients to independently select time slots via a mini-program.
Follow-up visits are prioritized with the initial treating doctor or another physician from the same department if necessary to ensure continuity of care. The policy excludes cases where diagnosis and treatment have been completed during the first visit, as well as specialist clinics, emergency and fever clinics, premium services, and cross-department or cross-specialty consultations. For more details, patients are advised to consult hospital staff.
Author | He Fengyu
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James Campion, Shen He
