Tang Xiao. (Source: Hainan Daily)

A small clinic in Changtang Village sees more than 20,000 patients a year, sometimes treating over 100 people in a single day. Located in Xinzhou Town, Danzhou, Hainan, its patients aren't just limited to the villagers who live there; they come from all around.

The doctor behind the busy clinic is Tang Xiao. Speaking about his workload, he smiled and admitted, "Sometimes there are simply more patients than I can handle."

The Changtang Village clinic serves about 3,600 residents, but it receives far more patients than one would expect for a village that size. Fu Yi, director of Xinzhou Township Central Health Center, said people from nearby villages make the journey because they trust Tang's medical skills and the care he provides.

That trust shows in the small details: medicines are neatly organized, and the clinic is clean and tidy. Tang bought the electronic queue management system himself and made the signs that guide patients through their visits. His wife helps keep the clinic clean and receive patients, staying by his side until the day's last consultation.

Tang has worked in rural healthcare for more than 20 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he kept his clinic open day in, day out. Over the years, patients who saw little improvement after seeking treatment elsewhere have found effective care in his hands. Tang makes sure to tailor prescriptions to each patient's needs, avoiding unnecessary costs wherever possible.

Reliable access to medicines and transparent pricing are also reasons villagers choose the clinic. The supervising health center supplies its medicines through centralized procurement, with more than 200 types available and over 80 commonly used medicines kept in stock. Medical expenses are covered through the health insurance system.

Government support also helps keep the clinic running. Over the past three years, Danzhou has given each village clinic CNY 9,000 per year to cover operating costs, including electricity, internet access, and medical supplies. Doctors make a living from public health service subsidies, patient consultations, and other allowances. At the nine village clinics managed by the township health center, doctors receive an average of CNY 8,000 in public health subsidies; essential medicine subsidies and income from medical services are calculated separately.

Beyond seeing patients at the clinic, Tang regularly visits villagers to provide public health services. To him, they're more than patients; they're neighbors he has known and cared for over many years.

"As long as they keep coming, I'll see them, no matter how tired I am," Tang said.

For locals, the clinic offers practical benefits: treatment for minor illnesses close to home, ongoing health care, and avoiding repeated trips to distant facilities for routine care.