Internet-powered nursing services available in all Chinese provinces: NHC

BEIJING -- Internet-powered nursing services have been initiated across all of China's provincial-level regions, significantly increasing the country's healthcare accessibility, an official with China's National Health Commission (NHC) said Saturday.

Currently, over 3,000 medical institutions provide a range of services, such as basic care, rehabilitation and psychological support under the internet-based model, which often involves patients applying online and receiving care from assigned nurses in their homes or communities, NHC official Xing Ruoqi told a press conference.

Xing noted that this initiative allows individuals with limited mobility to access convenient nursing care while reducing the overall cost of medical services.

Underscoring the significance of internet-based nursing services in ensuring continuous post-discharge care, Peng Bin, vice president of the prestigious Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that the hospital has established diverse online platforms for conducting follow-ups and offering health guidance to discharged patients.

Peng added that the hospital has combined online and offline approaches to deliver nursing services, providing online consultations across 35 medical specialties.

For the next step, the NHC will work to expand the coverage of internet-powered nursing services, broaden service offerings, and step up training for nurses.