China’s elderly population is continuously increasing, with projections reaching 400 million by 2035. Both government and private sectors must cooperate to develop the healthcare system to keep up.
The number of elderly people in China is steadily rising. Statistics officials report that those over 60 years old make up 23% of the population, and this figure is expected to continue growing, reaching 30%, or about 400 million, by 2035. This poses a significant challenge for the Chinese government to advance the healthcare system to accommodate the growing elderly population.
Mrs. Jiexu Su told local officials that her 67-year-old father suffers from a rare type of prostate cancer, which led her to quit her job to care for him. During this time, she realized that caring for a patient requires not only time and attention but also caregivers who understand the pain caused by the illness and can help alleviate it. She searched for professional patient care centers and found that in Beijing, China, such professional health service centers are very scarce.
Following this conversation, officials helped Jiexu Su find a health service center for her father and recognized a major looming issue in China. Currently, access to health services remains limited, especially for palliative care. In a society where both private businesses and the government have yet to prioritize developing professional systems and workforce, an aging population will become an insurmountable problem.
With projections of 400 million elderly by 2035 combined with China’s declining birth rate, the health needs of the population are shifting significantly, particularly increasing the demand for professionals specializing in elderly care.
The Chinese government is accelerating policies to address aging society issues by preparing to accept foreign investors interested in the health sector, allocating land to build dedicated elderly care centers, and focusing on developing healthcare workers skilled in elderly care to tackle future challenges.
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
SourceCNA