Shanghai to improve elderly medical care

Shanghai will increase medical facilities for the elderly over the next few years and, by 2020, there will be 1.5 nursing beds for every resident above 60.

By 2020 Shanghai will approximately have 5.4 million residents holding a Shanghai hukou (permanent residence permit) who are above 60. Medical care demands for the aged will increase due to the growing number of single seniors.

The government will encourage hospitals, nursing homes and community health centers to improve senior-targeted facilities.

Shanghai will provide more nursing beds in second-tier hospitals and new community health centers. It'll also ask top hospitals to hire geriatric medicine specialists.

Free medical checkups for elderly over 65 will continue to be offered. And by 2020, the city will ensure that at least 70 percent of all elderly receive checkups and treatments.