Objective To investigate the attention from Shanghai residents on the medical and health system reform, and put forward suggestions on the medical and health system reform. Methods Multistage random sampling method was employed to investigate 1 600 residents with questionnaire survey. Results The issues most concerned by the investigated residents were rationality of drug use, qualification of training for medical staff, personal payment for medical expense and medical insurance coverage of urban residents. Conclusion The management of drug use should be enhanced, the distribution, composition and qualification of medical staff should be optimized, and the national essential drug system should be carried out to lower the personal payment for medical expense.