Senior citizens in China are expected to enjoy a better life in the
near future, according to a 10th five-year plan for aged people
(2001-05) released by the State Council, the Chinese cabinet.
All provincial governments are urged to "earnestly implement the
plan'' so as to create a favorable living condition for the
elderly.
According to official figures, the number of people over 60 years
of age is estimated to reach 280 million by 2025 and 400 million by
2050.
The aim of the plan is to establish a system allowing senior
citizens to receive satisfactory welfare services and required
medical treatment, enjoy entertainment activities, continue
learning and find opportunities to contribute to society.
A
major principle stressed in the plan is establishing a social
security system for seniors that adapts to the requirements of a
socialist market economy.
The plan targets five sectors in which Chinese senior citizens will
enjoy better services: economic support, medical care, daily life
and cultural activities, and the guarantee of legal rights.
Specifically, China needs to build a sound system of providing
economic support to senior citizens, through the combined efforts
of governments, society, family and individuals.
The lives of senior citizens will be improved in accordance with
the country's economic and social development.
In
urban areas, governments at all levels should strive to promote and
perfect the social security system, thus ensuring that senior
citizens can receive their pensions on time and in the full
amount.
In
rural areas, governments will further strengthen the co-operation
between society and the family by providing adequate economic
support to aged farmers.
As
for medical care, both public and private medical institutions are
encouraged to provide better services for the seniors, as the
traditional publicly-funded medical care system has been gradually
phased out.
Local governments should also build a system geared to provide
economic support to the poor in paying for medical treatment,
according to the plan.
Other medical services, such as health consultations and disease
prevention, are also expected to be improved in the following
years.
According to the plan, governments at all levels should make full
use of economic resources to accelerate care for senior citizens by
developing long-term plans in co-ordination with local economic
development policies and clearly define the duties of appropriate
officials.
Although ambitious goals have been set to improve the lives of
seniors, much attention still needs to be paid to the obstacles
ahead.
China's fast-growing population of senior citizens requires
abundant financial and labor resources, said experts.
(China Daily
08/14/2001)