China launches free online medical services to curb coronavirus outbreak.

BEIJING -- Chinese hospitals and companies have launched free online medical consultation services in an effort to avoid cross-infections and ease pressure on hospitals amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Up to five hospitals in east China's Anhui Province started offering Internet-based diagnosis and treatment of patients with fever on their official WeChat accounts, China.org.cn reported on Sunday.

Patients can access a free consultation services via video, voice or text on their cellphone and doctors can check patients' inspection reports and offer guidance and advice online.

Wang Ran, a respiratory practitioner with the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, said she has treated more than 600 patients online days after the platform's launch.

"Online medical services can efficiently reduce the risk of cross-infection caused by crowds flocking to hospitals," she said.

Apart from Anhui, many provinces have launched such platforms to relive the pressure on hospitals and contain the spread of the virus. Dozens of hospitals in east China's Shandong Province have opened online fever clinic services, along with several hospitals in east China's Zhejiang Province.

China's online platforms including Alibaba and JD.com have...