China to promote medical, old-age care integration

BEIJING - China will take solid measures to promote medical and old-age care integration, according to a press conference held by the National Health Commission (NHC) Tuesday.

The NHC will give more priority to communities and rural areas in its work to advance the integration of medical and old-age care, said Wang Haidong, director of NHC's Department of Ageing and Health, at a press conference.

More facilities will be built to provide concentrated or home-based elderly health care services for those who are unable to take care of themselves, Wang said.

The NHC will raise the quality of integrated services, intensify management of institutions providing such services, and make the services more digitalized.

The NHC will also encourage social investment in building institutions in this regard, Wang said.

A State Council executive meeting last Wednesday passed a guideline on deepening medical and old-age care integration, which will be released soon, according to the press conference.