Government Policies and Programs for Rapid Ageing in China: Review of Recent Developments in System Integration and Digital Services
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: China is facing the challenge of an increasingly ageing population. The proportion of people aged 60 and above increased from 10% to 21.1% between 1999 and 2023 and is projected to reach 28% by 2040. In response to this demographic shift, the Chinese central government has implemented a series of policies that have evolved over time. The rapid advancement of information technology and science has accelerated these changes. However, there is still a research gap in understanding the digital service policies for elderly care.
Methodology: Based on research literature and policy texts, this study specifically focuses on policy development between January 2019 and January 2024. Seventy traceable national policy texts were categorized and analyzed, gathered from the State Council's policy document database and the official websites of national ministries.
Result: The 70 policies were interpreted and categorized into three major aspects. Firstly, the policies on the improvement of traditional elderly care aimed to meet diverse needs by focusing on health and medical care, the management and standards of serving institutions, service improvements and standardization, and the development of the service workforce. Secondly, the policies on system integration between elderly care and other industries included the integration of finance and elderly care, the construction of the insurance system, long-term care institutions and insurance, hospice care, and the silver economy. Thirdly, the policies on digital services comprised the smart healthcare industry, information accessibility, elderly-friendly digital technology and empowerment, and the creation of elderly-friendly communities and societies.
Conclusion: The development concepts and contents of China's elderly care policy have evolved. The acceleration of transformation and promotion of the silver economy has become a new comprehensive and universal measure. Despite recent policy developments indicating a growing trend towards integration, there remains considerable room for improvement in actual implementation. This should focus on the uneven development of the "three pillars" of the pension system, insufficient innovation in financial products, and inadequate industry financing channels. It is important to be alert to the persistent problems and obstacles, which widen the gap in elderly welfare, create new forms of social inequality and exclusion, and hinder the development of a friendly information society.
Keywords:
elderly care, policies and programs, system integration, digital services, China
Article Details
How to Cite
ZHANG, Yurong; LIU, Yanli; ZHANG, Xiulan.
Government Policies and Programs for Rapid Ageing in China: Review of Recent Developments in System Integration and Digital Services.
Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 12, n. 6, june 2024.
ISSN 2375-1924.
Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/5404>. Date accessed: 21 dec. 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v12i6.5404.
Section
Review Articles
The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.
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6. Huang K, Yang X. Analysis of the development history of national elderly care policies from 2000 to 2020 and the reference of foreign elderly care systems. In: He M, ed. Annual Report on Kangyang Industry of China (2020). China Social Sciences Academic Press; 2021:188-208.
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9. World Health Assembly, 69. Multisectoral action for a life course approach to healthy ageing: draft global strategy and plan of action on ageing and health: report by the Secretariat. World Health Organization. Published April 22, 2016. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/252671.
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18. Ministry of Civil Affairs, National Fire and Rescue Bureau. Regulations on Fire Safety Management in Elderly Care Institutions. Published June 30, 2023. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2023/issue_10666/202308/content_6900861.html.
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27. Ministry of Civil Affairs, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Education, etc. Opinions on strengthening the construction of senior service talents. Published December 31, 2023. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202401/content_6929136.htm.
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30. General Office of China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, General Office of the People's Bank of China. Notice on Carrying Out the Pilot Work of Specific Pension Savings. Published July 15, 2022. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-07/29/content_5703512.htm.
31. General Office of the State Council. Opinions on Promoting the Development of Private Pensions. Published April 21, 2022.https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-04/21/content_5686402.htm.
32. China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. Notice on Regulating and Promoting the Development of Commercial Pension Finance Business. Published April 28, 2022. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-05/11/content_5689610.htm.
33. National Health Insurance Administration. The director of the Department of Pharmaceutical Administration answered reporters' questions on the promulgation of national occupational standards for long-term carers. Published February 29, 2024.https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202402/content_6934996.htm.
34. The Fourth Session of the Thirteenth National People's Congress. The Outline of China’s the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035. Published March 12, 2021. https://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2021-03/13/content_5592681.htm.
35. General Office of the National Health Commission. Notice of the Second Batch of Hospice Pilot Work. Published December 5, 2019. http://www.nhc.gov.cn/cms-search/xxgk/getManuscriptXxgk.htm?id=efe3ed3d9dce4f519bc7bba7997b59d8.
36. National Health Commission, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Education, etc. Guiding Opinions on Establishing and Improving the Health Service System for the Elderly. Published October 28, 2019. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2020/content_5483907.htm.
37. General Office of the State Council. Circular of the 14th Five-Year Plan on National Healthcare Security. Published May 20, 2022. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2022-05/20/content_5691424.htm.
38. National Health Commission. Statistical Communique on the Development of China’s Health Undertakings. Published October 2023. https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202310/P020231012649046990925.pdf.
39. General Office of the National Health Commission. Notice of the Third Batch of Hospice Pilot Work. Published April 11, 2023. http://www.nhc.gov.cn/lljks/tggg/202307/df326ed6049249c7bf823df1395c9b4f.shtml.
40. General Office of the State Council. Opinions on Developing the Silver Economy and Improving the Well-being of the Elderly. Published January 15, 2024. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202401/content_6926088.htm.
41. Jin Y, Hu W, Fen Y. Internet use and the life of older adults aged 50 and above in digital era: findings from a national survey. Population Research. 2024;48(1):40-55.
42. Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Civil Affairs, National Health Commission. Promotion Catalogue of Smart Health Care Products and Services for the Elderly (2020 Edition). Published October 16, 2020. https://wap.miit.gov.cn/zwgk/zcwj/wjfb/dzxx/art/2020/art_4092629bb22840ecb56ffe51bf0d9120.html.
43. Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Civil Affairs, National Health Commission. Notice on organizing and implementing the application for the 2022 Smart Health Care Products and Services Promotion Catalog. Published November 16, 2022. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-11/23/content_5728383.htm.
44. Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China Disabled Persons' Federation. Guidance on Promoting Information Accessibility. Published September 11, 2022. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2020-09/23/content_5546271.htm.
45. Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Special Action Plan for Internet Application for the Elderly and Barrier-free Transformation. Published December24, 2022. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2020-12/26/content_5573472.htm.
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