China is taking significant steps to enhance healthcare services for its rapidly aging population. The National Health Commission (NHC) has issued updated guidelines requiring major hospitals to establish dedicated geriatric clinics.
The new guidelines mandate that general hospitals of the top two tiers nationwide set up specialized clinics for elderly patients. These clinics will focus on treating geriatric syndromes, managing multiple chronic conditions, and addressing acute illnesses common among older adults.
The revised policies specify that geriatric clinics must include outpatient consultation rooms, wards, and comprehensive evaluation rooms. Tertiary hospitals are required to allocate at least 20 beds for geriatric care, while secondary hospitals must provide no fewer than 10 beds.
To ensure comprehensive care, these clinics will be equipped with essential life-support devices such as tracheal intubation tools, simple respirators, electrocardiogram monitors, and cardiac defibrillators. Hospitals are also encouraged to install auxiliary facilities like electric nursing beds, self-transfer devices, enteral nutrition infusion pumps, and rehabilitation training equipment.
The guidelines emphasize a multidisciplinary approach, integrating professionals from internal medicine, oncology, traditional Chinese medicine, rehabilitation, mental health, nursing, pharmacy, and nutrition. This holistic strategy aims to provide well-rounded care for elderly patients.
China’s elderly population, defined as individuals aged 60 and above, reached approximately 310 million in 2022, accounting for 22% of the total population. In response to this aging trend, the NHC has rolled out several policies to improve elderly health services.
However, experts point out that establishing and effectively operating independent geriatric departments faces multiple challenges. There is a significant shortage of specialized healthcare professionals in geriatric medicine. Additionally, factors such as low service fees have led to a lack of enthusiasm among medical institutions for developing geriatric departments.
Despite these challenges, the expansion of geriatric services is a crucial step in addressing the healthcare needs of China’s aging population. The new guidelines represent a concerted effort to improve the quality and accessibility of elderly care nationwide.
