China to improve integration of health and elderly care

2017-07-15
Xinhua

BEIJING — China is looking to improve the integration of healthcare and elderly care services by encouraging more cooperation mechanisms for healthcare and elderly care institutions, an official said on July 14.

Wang Haidong, an official at the National Health and Family Planning Commission, made the remarks at a press briefing on a guideline on elderly care services, which was published by the State Council in early June.

China aims to have over 80 percent of its medical institutions set up green channels for the elderly to enjoy more convenient medical services in 2017, while more than 50 percent of the elderly care institutions will be able to provide various medical services for their customers, Wang said.

Elderly patients will be a priority for family doctor services, who are expected to offer the elderly basic medical and customized healthcare services. The goal stands that by the end of 2017, 60 percent of China’s elderly will have their contractual family doctors.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) will push forward public finance to provide subsidies for all elderly with financial difficulties or disabilities, said Meng Zhiqiang, an official from the MCA.

Issues such as elderly care facilities, senior education services, and health management for the elderly were also discussed and overviewed at the press briefing.