The National Health Commission has approved a one-year pilot program in Beijing that, for the first time, will permit initial medical consultations for certain pediatric conditions to be conducted online.

The move, announced in a document published on the commission's official website, signals a shift from current practices, which restrict internet-based consultations to follow-up visits after an initial in-person appointment.

According to the commission, the pilot aims to use digital technology to alleviate pressure on overcrowded hospitals and meet the demand of patients outside the capital for higher-quality care.

The program will be implemented by two leading pediatric institutions — Beijing Children's Hospital and the Capital Institute of Pediatrics, both affiliated with Capital Medical University — and will focus on child growth and development, child nutrition, and pediatric skin diseases.

The commission has also outlined a series of requirements for the pilot, including strengthened oversight of medical safety and cybersecurity.

Participating physicians must possess at least three years of independent clinical experience, and a guardian must accompany the child during any online initial consultation.

If a child's condition is considered unsuitable for remote diagnosis, physicians are required to immediately end the online session and refer the patient to an in-person medical facility.

The one-year pilot is scheduled to run from January through December.