Rules for physical disability prevention and rehabilitation

2017-02-27
english.gov.cn

The State Council has issued rules on the prevention and reduction of physical disabilities as well as their rehabilitation.

According to the document, medical, educational, mental and assistant device measures will be taken to help the disabled recover from or reduce their disabilities and increase self-care and social participation.

Government above county level will be responsible for the implementation and supervision of physical disability prevention and care. Government organs, enterprises and institutions as well as grass-roots social organizations should also do their part, the document said.

In terms of physical disability prevention, government above county level should order related departments and the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) to conduct monitoring, analyzing the main factors that could develop into physical disability, such as heredity, medicine and accidents.

In addition, the National Health and Family Planning Commission should make efforts in screening and diagnosis of neonatal and other diseases, strengthening early rehabilitation intervention in clinical practice to reduce the risks of developing physical disabilities.

Employers that provide jobs with a high risk of causing disabilities should conduct training for employees to take precautionary measures to avoid such risks.

Meanwhile, the government called for establishing a rehabilitation service system for the disabled, which can integrate various rehabilitation resources in facilities and personnel among rehabilitation communities, centers and family caretakers.

Governments above county level are called to formulate plans on setting up rehabilitation centers in accordance with the number of disabled population, their distribution and needs for rehabilitation, and include the centers in their basic public services system, according to the document.

Social powers are also welcomed to invest in the construction of rehabilitation centers, which will enjoy equal policies as government-sponsored ones in market admission, professional and technical personnel evaluation, and financial support.

Related departments at government above county level and CDPF should establish rehabilitation venues in communities or entrust social organizations to manage the rehabilitation, such as training for self-care in daily living.

Government at all levels should include physical disabilities in the reimbursement scope of basic medical insurance, and pay subsidies for disabled insurers that are having financial difficulties.

The document also urged establishing a national rehabilitation and assistance system for children with disabilities, providing free operations and rehabilitation training services for children with disabilities or autism up to 6 years old.

Meanwhile, expenses for the prevention of physical disability and their rehabilitation will be part of government expenses. Also, related agencies engaging in disability care will enjoy tax preference policies as well as support in funds, equipment and land use.