Building Elderly Health Support System and

Positively Responding to Population Aging

Shi Yaming

Department of Family Development

National Health and Family Planning Commission

of the People’s Republic of China

March 3, 2014

I. Analysis of the Population Aging Situations

in China

Enormous size of aged population and quick pace of population aging

Getting old before getting rich

Notable gaps between regions and between urban and rural areas

Decline in working population and working population aging taking place at the same time

Surge in living-alone and disabled elders

Proportions of three major age groups in population censuses

1. Enormous size of aged population and quick pace

of population aging

7.7% 7.1% 8.1% 8.4% 10.3% 13.3% 180 million, 22.1% of worldwide aged population

Aged 60+

Aged 65+

Aged

80+

exceed 200 million in 2013

exceed 300 million in 2025

1. Enormous size of aged population and quick pace

of population aging

Annual average growth rate ever since 1980s

population aged 60 and above, at 3%

population aged 80 and above, over 5%

total population, only 1%

1. Enormous size of aged population and quick pace

of population aging

2. Getting old before getting rich

Per capita national income in 2012

in China, USD 7,640

in Europe, USD 27,080 on average

the same aging level as developed countries in around

2025

a big gap in terms of per capita economic indicators and

the level of social affluence

3. Notable gaps between regions and between

urban and rural areas

Regional difference: proportion of 65+ population by province, 2010

3. Notable gaps between regions and between

urban and rural areas

Cities Featured by Higher Level of Population Aging (2010)

Shanghai Jiangsu Sichuan Chongqing

proportion of population aged 60 and above(%)

15.07 15.99 16.30 17.42

In 2010, the proportion of population aged 60 and above

was only 11.7% in urban areas, and that in rural areas

reached as high as 15.0%.

In 2010, the total number of working population aged 15-

59 was 930 million (70% of total population).

The working population started to decline from 2012, and

would drop down to 650 million (52% of total population in

2050).

4. Decline in working population and working

population aging taking place at the same time

Proportions of Working-age Population of Respective Age Groups in 2010 and 2050

5. Surge in living-alone and disabled elders

Proportion of living-alone elders and elderly couples in

2010

aged 60 and above, 9.4% and 28.9%

aged 80 and above, 15.7% and 15.9%

In 2012, Chinese government amended the Law on

Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly.

In 2013, Chinese government promulgated “Several

Opinions of State Council for Accelerating the

Development of Elderly Care Service Industry”.

II. Recent Developments of China in Elderly

Health Undertakings

1. Elderly health service network improved steadily

Establish such elderly-oriented medical institutions as

geriatrics hospital, nursing house and rehabilitation

hospital, and gradually develop such healthcare

models as tiered healthcare and separate treatment

of acute and chronic diseases.

2. Elderly health assurance policy system improved

constantly

Basic medical security system is covering more and more

people, which amount to 1.28 billion for the present.

With the continual consolidation and development of the

new rural cooperative medical care system, the per capita

subsidy provided by all levels of government has increased

from RMB 20 in 2003 to RMB 280 nowadays, and up to

75% of inpatient care costs covered by this system can be

reimbursed.

3. Elderly health service coverage expanded gradually

Elders aged 65 and above are entitled to free health

check-up and counseling once every year. As of

March 2013, we have provided health management

service for 119 million elders.

4. Long-term nursing service models explored actively

Establish and improve the long-term nursing service

system "supported by institutions, based at home and

relying on the community", thus extending the nursing

service for the elderly to extensive families and

communities.

1) To establish healthy aging support system and make

sure elders are covered by the health services.

2) To establish home-based long-term nursing & care

system for the elderly and develop standards, norms and

appraisal systems for elderly care workers.

3) To strengthen the basic research and data support for

elderly health.

III. Suggestions on Preparing for Aging Society

Thank You！