BEIJING: The Chinese government will strengthen the supervision of elderly care facilities after it eliminated permits for the establishment of nursing homes amid efforts to cut red tape, a civil affairs official said Thursday.
A set of newly revised measures on the management of nursing homes, set to take effect on Nov. 1, contain stipulations concerning enhanced supervision, including strengthening and innovating oversight, said Yu Jianliang, director of the elderly service bureau of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, at a press conference.
The document stipulates that civil affairs departments should perform their supervision and inspection duties in accordance with the law. They can take measures against elderly care institutions suspected of violating laws and regulations, such as conducting on-site inspections, requiring the rectification of misconduct within a fixed period or ordering the suspension of operations for rectification.
On-site inspections overseeing the safety and service quality of elderly care institutions shall be conducted at least once a year and the results of the inspections should be made public in a timely manner, according to the document.
Civil affairs departments should strengthen coordinated supervision and establish a credit system for nursing homes, said Yu, citing regulations from the revised measures.
It is necessary to make full use of information technology to enable the interconnection of information systems and data sharing, Yu noted, adding that the role of social supervision should be promoted by listening to the opinions of the elderly and setting up unimpeded channels for complaints. – Agencies
