More than 20 hospitals in Beijing have been selected as official medical centers for the 2008 Olympic Games, with all the doctors receiving training in English.

Doctors at the designated hospitals will write prescriptions for foreign patients in both Chinese and English, according to the Beijing Health Bureau.

First-aid volunteers speaking other languages will also be recruited. The bureau will cooperate with banks to ensure foreign patients can use international bankcards to pay medical bills starting next year.

Food and drinking water in the Olympic village, stadiums, hotels and restaurants will be monitored to ensure athletes' safety. A reporting system covering intestinal and respiratory diseases will be activated during the games.

(CRIENGLISH.com Dec.30, 2006)