The launch ceremony of the national electronic health card is held in Bayannuur, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Feb 20. [Photo/northnews.cn]

A ceremony to mark the launch of electronic health cards was held in Bayannuur, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Feb 20.

The national electronic health card contains a QR code which allows hospitals to access data about a patient's health and finances, without needing to check a person's ID card.

Chinese citizens can apply for the personal QR code using a special app or via WeChat. They can then use it to access and pay for medical treatment in any hospital nationwide. Data collected will be used to build comprehensive medical records.

According to local authorities, by the end of October, everyone in the autonomous region will have been issued with a card.

And by the end of the year, all secondary and tertiary medical institutions are expected to be using the new medical cards.

A staff member introduces the distribution of national electronic health cards, Feb 20. [Photo/northnews.cn]