Premier Li Keqiang urged the streamlining of procedures for the establishment of institutions that combine medical and elderly care services at the State Council executive meeting on Nov 28.

“Applying projects that integrate medical resources and elderly care services now always require approvals by many departments, which may sometimes have different opinions,” Premier Li said.

To solve this problem, the Premier vowed to implement a “single window” system and make related departments work collectively to facilitate market entities.

It was decided at the meeting to further develop the elderly care industry and its combination of medical resources, and improve the quality of elderly care services.

According to the Premier, meeting the diversified demands of the large elderly population and enhancing the supply and quality of elderly care services can not only improve people’s livelihoods, but also expand employment and upgrade the service industry.

He called on related departments to issue documents that include guidelines instead of planned targets, and encouraged local governments to address shortages in the elderly care services supply through multiple channels.

“As for the high market threshold facing nursing institutions, related departments should identify the major obstacles and take targeted measures to further simplify and relax entry procedures and thresholds,” the Premier said, pledging to support the development of nursing institutions.

He also called for efforts to promote home- and community-based elderly care services and improve nursing facilities in communities.

Efforts should be made to boost cooperation between medical institutions and elderly care institutions, include qualified medical institutions inside nursing institutions in medical insurance, and promote the model in rural areas and communities.

Medical workers were encouraged to get a job at institutions that combine medical and elderly care services, and they will enjoy equal treatment in professional title assessment.

It was also decided to offer elderly people with financial difficulties or disabilities services at low fees or free of charge, enhance vocational training for nursing staff, and develop long-term nursing services.

Related departments were required to provide financial support for eligible individuals and small and micro-sized enterprises engaged in elderly care services, strengthen interministerial supervision, and set compulsory standards for the quality and safety of elderly care services.