Phoenix TV:
Care for the elderly is related to everyone of us. My question is for Mr. Huang. What achievement has China made in the past 70 years in regard to its care for the elderly? In addition, what measures will be taken in future to address this? Thank you.
Huang Shuxian:
The CPC Central Committee and the State Council have placed great importance on the issue of elderly care, and a stronger leadership has been formed to promote the development of this great endeavor. Since the founding of the PRC in 1949, especially since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China's undertaking of elderly care and services has made historic progress. This can be demonstrated in the following aspects:
First, a system of elderly care services with Chinese characteristics has been established. We have built a multi-layered service system of elderly care. It is based on households, relying on communities, supported by institutions, and completed by combining medical and care services. By the end of June 2019, the number of elderly care institutions in China reached 29,900; the number of community-based elderly care institutions and facilities reached 143,400; and the number of beds for elderly care services totaled 7.353 million. More than 50% of elderly care institutions and about 40% of beds for elderly care services are run privately.
Second, the institution of elderly care services with Chinese characteristics has been basically established. 15 million seniors who are in financial difficulty now fall into the group that enjoys a minimum level of subsistence allowances while 4 million elderly people are part of the group that is being supported by the government. Major categories of elderly allowance have been disbursed at the provincial level, including old age allowance, subsidies for seniors in financial difficulty, and the allowance for those unable to cope with everyday life. Nearly 36 million elderly people have benefited from this.
Third, the quality and standard of elderly care services have improved. We fully implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on improving the quality of service in nursing homes, and have been carrying out special operations in this field for four consecutive years. We are continuing to increase the investment in facilities for elderly care, comprehensively eliminating the risks, and trying to make the elderly comfortable in nursing institutions.
Next, we will further open China's elderly care market, encouraging the development of elderly care and improving the system of elderly care services.
We will also expand the supply of elderly care services by establishing a comprehensive system accordingly. In addition, we will provide more diversified services for the elderly. We will further improve the quality of elderly care services so as to make sure it is reliable and safe.
