China to promote integrating healthcare and eldercare services

Source: Xinhua

Updated: 2015-11-13

BEIJING, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- China will promote the integration of health care with elderly care to address its aging population, an official statement showed Wednesday.

These efforts will benefit millions of Chinese families and create numerous jobs, according to a statement released after an executive meeting of the State Council, China's cabinet, presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

A decision reached at the meeting urges medical institutions to provide senior care agencies with convenience in making appointments and urges cooperation between community hospitals, communities and home-based elderly care services.

The government supports eldercare institutions to provide hospice care, Chinese medicine, and geratologous and rehabilitation services in accordance with the law, said the statement.

The government encourages the private sector to run services that integrate healthcare and eldercare and allows areas with abundant medical resources to transform some public hospitals into rehabilitation and senior care centers, according to the statement.

The government vows to provide more support in financing and land use for elderly health care services and enlarge its purchase of basic healthcare and elderly care services, according to the statement.

Pilot projects integrating two kinds of services should be carried out in provinces nationwide, according to the statement.