Network breakdown upsets some patients

By Cai Wenjun | March 31, 2011, Thursday |

Online Edition

THE city's medical insurance system broke down between 9:10am and 9:30am this morning due to a technical error, resulting in temporary confusion as the out-patient departments of local hospitals were denied access to the city's database.

Patients felt frustrated as they could not use their smart cards which contain their medical insurance information. Hospitals managed to calm down the patients and sent more staff and guards to maintain order and explain the problem.

"Each hospital has a contingency plan to cope with an unexpected situation if it lasts more than 20 minutes, such as making registration for patients using hand-written notes," said Yang Xiaodong, an official at Shanghai Children's Hospital.

"Since the system recovered quickly, the hospital didn't activate the contingency plan. Most patients were cooperative."

Initial investigation showed the breakdown might be caused when the system was transferring data at the end of the month, he said.

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Network breakdown upsets some patients

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