China to improve health services for elderly people

BEIJING -- China will work to build a sound system of health services for the country's senior citizens, according to the country's top health official on Apr 28.

Ma Xiaowei, head of the National Health Commission, said at a national conference on elderly affairs that the system that covers health education, disease prevention and fitness, disease treatment and rehabilitation, as well as daily care, long-term services and hospice care for the elderly in both urban and rural areas, will be improved.

The system needs to properly define the target groups and providers of such services as well as the contents of the services, Ma said.

The financial issue should also be considered, the official said.

As of the end of 2018, China has a population of 249 million aged 60 or above, and the number is expected to exceed 300 million in 2025, according to Ma.