Upgraded services

Latest census data show that the number of senior citizens in China is expected to reach 300 million by 2025. Against this backdrop, China is facing an acute lack of doctors and nurses. Currently, there are 3.28 million licensed nurses in China. Nearly 3 million additional nurses are needed, according to Wei.

As the elders’ health conditions gradually decline, so do their self-care capabilities. In China, governments at various levels, both central and local, have started paying great attention to healthcare for elders, and have explored creative modes of providing medical and healthcare services to this segment of the population.

In view of the growing needs, as the first officially recognized company allowed to experiment with online-to-offline medical and healthcare services, Yihu365 is now looking to extend its coverage beyond in-home on-demand services. The company recently established the Beijing Home-based Services for Elders Platform, which aims at providing overall nursing services, so that all elderly citizens may enjoy the achievements of technological development.

Family doctors can now sign contracts with Yihu365, which is an important breakthrough that will improve the use efficiency of medical resources by enabling first diagnosis at the grassroots level, two-way referral system, and separated treatment for patients with acute or chronic diseases.

In the future, Yihu365 services will include homevisits by doctors, thus opening up the next step in door-to-door medical services. “It is undoubtedly good for Yihu365, and visiting nurses are the first step toward visiting family doctors,” said Wei. Comments to xyy@chinafrica.cn