Peking University, Dec. 9, 2019: The annual conference of the Special Committee of Geriatric Health of China Health Economics Association and 4th Symposium of Health Care and Social Care of the Elderly as a Social Cause and an Industry was held in Beijing on December 7. The theme of this conference was "Smart Rehabilitation-Practical Exploration-Theoretical Innovation-Healthy China". It focused on the health and retirement policies, the combination of medical care and support, the development of a rehabilitation system, and the results of innovations in health care theory and practice. More than 100 experts, scholars and practitioners from over 30 institutions and agencies participated in the conference.


Wang Hongman, chair of the Special Committee on Geriatric Health, reported the work in 2019 and key points of the work plan in 2020. The guiding principle of the overall work of the committee in 2020 is to carry out academic research on the combination of medical care and aging-related work and provide feasible, rational, and forward-looking policy advice.

Gao Qiang, principal adviser of the committee and former head of the Ministry of Health, delivered a keynote speech recognizing the work of the committee. He encouraged scholars and practitioners of the committee to improve the medical care system for the elderly with special needs.

Chen Xiaohong, honorary consultant of the committee and former vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, attended the meeting and praised the rich results of the committee’s work in 2019. He emphasized that the issue of well-being is both social and political and needs collaborative efforts nationwide.

Liang Wannian, director of the Department of Healthcare Reform of the National Health Commission, pointed out that China must respond to aging with a positive attitude and use "new ideas and new technologies" to embrace the aging issue. He also argued that accelerating the establishment of a medical care system with Chinese characteristics and building high-quality and efficient medical services system were urgent and significant.

Lu Qiutian, senior consultant of China Institute for International Strategic Studies, talked about his understanding of Europe’s response to ageing issues, and put forward that health is a common and eternal theme of the world. He stated that it was necessary to continue to carry forward China’s excellent traditional health concepts and deal with aging effectively.

Qi Xinjie, from the Department of Aging and Health, National Health Commission of China, said the department is pressing ahead with the development of medical science, rehabilitation hospitals for the elderly, long-term nursing and so forth. Qi extended her heartfelt thanks to the committee for their hard work and their research achievements, adding that she hopes to join hands with the committee for the well-being of seniors.

At the symposium, new ideas and concepts were proposed through cross-disciplinary discussions, opening a new chapter in China's aging health work in the new era.

Written by: Shi Jingjing
Edited by: Ma Yaoli
Source: PKU News (Chinese)