Hangzhou community hosts international health center

A community health-care center, under the cooperation of local authorities and a commercial organization, opened recently in Hangzhou's Qianyun Community. 

“The local government provides venues and the commercial organization offers facilities and services. It's a pilot. If it runs smoothly in the coming months, the model might be applied in other communities,” said Yu Bo from Sijiqing Subdistrict where the community is located.

Community-based health care has become a new trend in Hangzhou as authorities seek to ease congestion in urban hospitals. Unlike other government-operated centers, Qianyun International Health-care Center is partly operated by a private company. 

The Qianyun Community is a hub for expats in Hangzhou. Around 630 foreigners from the US, Canada, France, Russia and other countries are living here. Some of the expats have joined the community’s volunteer team, giving voluntary services in the health-care center.

The venue covers an area of 1,021 square meters with a cafeteria, psychological counseling room, multifunction classroom and sports area.

The center offers daycare services, including lunch and afternoon tea, charging 65 yuan (US$9.68) for eight hours.

The center has a team of home health workers for routine medical checks, like blood pressure and other vital signs. Seniors can either visit the center for health checkups or have in-home exams if they have mobility issues. The data is uploaded into a “smart” machine and transmitted for doctors to assess. The service charges 35 yuan per hour.

In addition, psychiatrists are invited periodically to treat the psychological problems of the elderly, including those related to living alone.