Shanghai's innovative training program for medical students will be expanded across the country this year, according to the Ministry of Education.

Under the program, students who graduate from medical school after five years of study will enter a three-year practical training period in clinical medicine in local hospitals. They will formally start work at hospitals only after they have passed all the examinations and evaluations.

"For a long time, there has been a gap between medical education and medical practice among medical school students," Yin Jie, vice-director of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, said at a conference on medicine training and reform held by the Ministry of Education on Aug 18 and 19.

"Education and health departments have long been exploring effective ways to solve the problem. And the new program will put a lot of focus on students' practical abilities," he said.

Over the past three years, more than 1,100 students have enrolled in the program. The first batch of 386 students is expected to graduate in June next year.