China's National Health Commission (NHC) has introduced sweeping reforms requiring top-tier hospitals to establish specialized geriatric clinics, responding to the healthcare demands of its 310 million citizens aged 60 and above. Revised guidelines now mandate dedicated wards, advanced medical equipment, and multidisciplinary teams to manage complex health conditions among elderly patients.
Tertiary hospitals must allocate at least 20 beds for geriatric care, while secondary hospitals must provide 10 beds. Facilities will be equipped with life-support devices including cardiac defibrillators and rehabilitation tools, alongside traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies and nutritional support services.
Aging demographic pressures
With seniors accounting for 22% of China's population, the NHC aims for 80% of top-tier hospitals to operate standardized geriatric departments by 2027. While 6,877 hospitals had established such departments by 2023 – up 47% from 2021 – challenges persist in staffing and funding. Medical institutions face shortages of geriatric specialists and low profitability from elderly care services, creating hurdles in sustaining this critical healthcare expansion.
