With 650 hospice beds, Beijing offers better service to the elderly

BEIJING -- Beijing had a total of 650 beds for hospice patients by the end of 2022, compared to 64 beds by 2020, according to local health authorities.

A total of 95 medical institutions in the city had registered hospice care departments and 28 had set up special beds for hospice patients, said Wang Xiao'e, an official with the Beijing Municipal Health Commission.

Beijing authorities issued a plan for the development of hospice care services in the city in 2022. According to the plan, every district of the Chinese capital will host at least one hospice care center by 2025, with no less than 1,800 hospice beds across the city.

In order to meet the diverse needs of the elderly, Beijing has integrated the city's medical resources, promoted the establishment of hospice care wards in the oncology, pain and geriatrics departments of hospitals, and supported community health centers in providing professional hospice care services for patients, said Wang.