China launches health service campaign for disabled elderly people

According to Xinhua News Agency in Beijing, the National Health Commission and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine recently issued a notice, deciding to organize and carry out the health service action for disabled elderly people (2024-2027), focusing on the “urgent, difficult, and anxious” problems of the elderly in the field of health and precisely matching the health service needs of disabled elderly people.

The notice clearly states that the service objects of the health service action for disabled elderly people are disabled elderly people aged 65 and above who apply for home in the jurisdiction. The service subjects are medical and health institutions with service capabilities, including community health service centers, township health centers, secondary and lower hospitals, nursing homes (centers, stations), rehabilitation medical institutions, and medical institutions in medical and nursing institutions.

The notice states that the service content of the health service action for disabled elderly people includes carrying out health services, providing health consultations, guiding referrals, etc. It is clear that medical and health institutions provide disabled elderly people with one lifestyle and health status assessment, physical examination, TCM constitution identification and health care guidance services every year. Each province, in light of local conditions, conducts disability assessments for the elderly who apply, and provides services such as blood pressure measurement, peripheral blood glucose testing, rehabilitation guidance, nursing skills guidance, nutrition improvement guidance, and psychological support to the disabled elderly.

The notice requires that medical and health institutions should arrange at least two staff members to provide door-to-door services together, provide necessary safety guarantees for the staff members, and purchase personal accident insurance as needed. When providing door-to-door services, guardians, caregivers or relatives of disabled elderly people with full civil capacity should be present to protect the legitimate rights and interests of disabled elderly people in accordance with the law.