Beijing has been trying a number of ways to staff its grassroots healthcare providers with more general practitioners, yet doctors say they need better pay to continue.

In 2012, the city had 11,702 doctors, including about 5,800 GPs, said Zong Baoguo of the city's health bureau.

"It needs another 10,000 GPs to achieve the goal of one GP for every 600 households," he said.