China promotes nursing services for debilitated senior citizens

BEIJING -- The National Health Commission (NHC) and other related authorities have issued two guidelines, urging efforts to evaluate elderly citizens' demands for nursing services and intensify training for orderlies.

At a press conference held Tuesday, Jiao Yahui, an official with the commission, said currently China has nearly 250 million people aged 60 and above, of whom more than 40 million are unable to take care of themselves.

The guidelines were rolled out to meet the huge demands for professional medical and nursing services among debilitated old people, Jiao said.

Medical institutions should provide different nursing services according to the evaluation results, as well as step up efforts to cultivate more nurses, enhance their professional skills, improve the service quality and expand employment, Jiao said.

The NHC will take more measures in the future, including increasing the supply of nursing services, expanding the trial program of Internet plus nursing services and developing community and home nursing services.