The standard term Chinese doctors serve abroad on medical relief work could be shortened as the authorities consider reforming the program, said a senior official of the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

Parties involved in providing such medical relief work can "discreetly explore ways to shorten" the term doctors with the medical relief work serve abroad, said Li Bin, director of the health commission, at a ceremony on Thursday to award hospitals and doctors who have participated in such missions.

Currently, a medical relief team spends two to three years in a foreign country, according to Ren Minghui, director of the Department of International Cooperation of the commission.