BEIJING -- China will establish a national collaborative network of hospitals for rare disease diagnosis and treatment to promote the early detection and effective treatment of such diseases, according to a decision by the National Health Commission (NHC).

Comprised of 324 hospitals selected for their capacity and experience in treating patients with rare diseases, the network will facilitate the timely transfer of difficult and complicated cases between hospitals and the allocation of quality medical resources for them, an NHC statement says.

Meanwhile, hospitals in the network are urged to further train medical workers on rare disease knowledge and clinical skills, focusing on improving their abilities to identify, diagnose and treat such cases.

China will establish a system for rare disease patients to be registered, the NHC adds.