State Council: Evolution of a mass cohort of healthtech institutions; incentivization policies for healthcare workers to be implemented

To cope with China's rapidly aging population, the State Council of the CPC Central Committee recently issued the “Recommendations and opinions on strengthening the work carried out on ageing in the new era” (hereinafter referred to as the Recommendations).

Several national strategies to address population ageing have been presented in the Recommendations, which are organized with medical personnel as follows:

Establishment of the Department of Geriatrics

The Recommendations call for strengthening the establishment of geriatric departments in general hospitals, and the proportion of geriatric departments set up in these hospitals will reach more than 60% by 2025.

Through reform, expansion, evolution and development, increasing the number of elderly-centric hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and nursing homes and establishing a two-way referral mechanism for rehabilitation, nursing and health care.

Encouraging and reimbursing on-site medical services

To expand the scope of home medical services such as family beds and home visits provided by medical organizations, the relevant medical expenses may be reimbursed by the provisions, and the on-site fee shall be charged according to the services provided.

Many medical institutions may undergo transformation

Medical and healthcare institutions are encouraged to cooperate with institutions for the elderly, in agreements to further integrate and optimize primary health care and geriatric resources to provide medical treatment, rehabilitation, health care and other services. We will support the transformation of secondary and sub-medical institutions in areas rich in medical resources and carry out rehabilitation, nursing and medical integration services. Simultaneously, we will rely on nursing homes, community health service centres, township hospitals and other medical and healthcare institutions, as well as adequate geriatric services institutions, to provide long-term care services for the elderly.

Such medical personnel are entitled to incentives

The Recommendations calls for the vigorous development of relevant vocational education and the development of geriatric services and training for nursing staff. Medical personnel working in medical institutions attached to institutions for the elderly may be prioritized to receive relevant incentives for primary medical personnel.