Domestic market 'not meeting seniors' needs'
By Lu Feiran |
May 17, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SENIORS requiring health foods and aids such as wheelchairs and massage machines are poorly served by the market, officials with the country's Ministry of Civil Affairs said yesterday in Shanghai.
The ministry said China's aging society will reach a peak in 2050, with senior numbers reaching around 472 million - about 25 percent of the country's population.
By that time, seniors will consume 5 trillion yuan (US$768 billion) a year, mostly on appliances and health foods.
The acceleration of the aging society presents an opportunity for the development of the whole senior industry, officials said.
But products for seniors are frequently found to be of low quality and some manufacturers cheat seniors with fake product scams, said Wang Xitai, director of the National Research Center for Rehabilitation Technical Aids under the ministry.
"Imported products are too expensive for most of the seniors in our country," said Wang. "However, the quality of domestic products doesn't fill people with confidence. This is a problem."
Cases have been reported throughout the country where manufacturers have promoted fake or low-quality health foods and appliances through offering free medical consultations.
Wang said the government should include appliances in the country's medical insurance to relieve seniors' economic burden, as well as reduce scam cases.
Another concern is the quality of service for seniors. Officials said the country does not have enough professional nursing workers to offer assistance to China's elderly.
The ministry said China's aging society will reach a peak in 2050, with senior numbers reaching around 472 million - about 25 percent of the country's population.
By that time, seniors will consume 5 trillion yuan (US$768 billion) a year, mostly on appliances and health foods.
The acceleration of the aging society presents an opportunity for the development of the whole senior industry, officials said.
But products for seniors are frequently found to be of low quality and some manufacturers cheat seniors with fake product scams, said Wang Xitai, director of the National Research Center for Rehabilitation Technical Aids under the ministry.
"Imported products are too expensive for most of the seniors in our country," said Wang. "However, the quality of domestic products doesn't fill people with confidence. This is a problem."
Cases have been reported throughout the country where manufacturers have promoted fake or low-quality health foods and appliances through offering free medical consultations.
Wang said the government should include appliances in the country's medical insurance to relieve seniors' economic burden, as well as reduce scam cases.
Another concern is the quality of service for seniors. Officials said the country does not have enough professional nursing workers to offer assistance to China's elderly.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
