China unveils rule to boost elderly facilities

More land has to be made available for the building of elderly service facilities in China, according to a regulation unveiled on Monday.

The new rule was issued by the ministries of civil affairs, land and resources, finance, and housing and urban-rural development, to tackle the lack of nursing institutions for elderly people across the country.

According to the regulation, more facilities should be planned for daily care, rehabilitation or entertainment for aged people.

The construction of facilities can be increased appropriately in regions with large amounts of elderly people, it added.

New residential districts are required to be equipped with home-based or community service institutions while built-up housing estates should introduce such facilities within one year, it said.

Land for such facilities can not be changed for other use, the regulation noted, adding inspections will be conducted to tighten supervision.

The population of those at or above 60 hit 202 million in China by the end of 2013, 15 percent of the population. The figure is expected to exceed 300 million by 2025. Two-thirds of them live with illnesses, and more than 36 million are unable, to some extent, take care of themselves.