Mayi Island. [Photo/The official news website of Zhoushan]

Mayi Island in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, has launched a mobile medical service program that brings specialist doctors back to their hometown to provide free consultations.

The island, with a land area of less than 3 square kilometers and a resident population of just over 1,000, has nearly 70 percent of its residents aged over 60. Medical resources are limited, with only one local health center. Residents previously had to travel off the island for complex treatment.

To address this gap, local authorities have built a "sailing clinic" service model and invited doctors originally from the island, many of whom now work in major hospitals, to return during holidays and provide on-site services.

Nearly 40 specialists from institutions including Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Zhoushan Branch, the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, and Zhoushan Hospital have joined the program, covering more than 10 medical fields such as cardiology, endocrinology, ophthalmology, and infectious diseases.

Residents said the service has significantly reduced the burden of medical travel, and communication has also become easier due to shared hometown ties and local dialects.

The program will be further expanded by integrating returning doctors into the family doctor system and strengthening telemedicine support. Since January, more than 10 free clinic sessions have served nearly 500 residents.