Việt Nam is advised to quickly develop the model of family doctors, as well as improve the capability of hospitals and medical centres that specialise in taking care of the elderly, in order to meet increasing demand from senior citizens.— Photo tinhuybentre.ubnd.vn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam is advised to quickly develop the model of family doctors, as well as improve the capability of hospitals and medical centres that specialise in taking care of the elderly, in order to meet increasing demand from senior citizens.

The advice was released at a workshop held on Monday in Hà Nội. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Việt Nam is among the countries with the fastest aging rate in the world.

The number of the elderly is over 10 million people, accounting for 11 per cent of the nation’s total population, but the national system to provide health care for the elderly remains severely lacking.

Data showed that public healthcare centres only receive about 40,000 elderly people now. The number is too small compared to the real demand.

Participants at the workshop also said that the Government should issue policies, including reductions on land tax, to encourage private sector investment in building healthcare centres specialised for older people.

At present, a lot of companies are keen on establishing centres that focus on the elderly, however, they are hesitant because of the high price of land. — VNS