BEIJING: China is shifting chronic respiratory disease management beyond hospitals toward home-based care, as policymakers, clinicians and medical-device makers promote earlier screening and digital monitoring, creating opportunities in one of the fastest-growing healthcare markets.
The move reflects a broader effort to address one of China’s biggest chronic disease burdens while easing pressure on its healthcare systems as the population ages.
Almost 100 million people suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, while about 176 million have obstructive sleep apnea, according to data cited in recommendations issued by the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, MD Weekly and a multidisciplinary expert committee.
The recommendations call for a shift from hospital-centred treatment to continuous disease management spanning public awareness, early screening, standardised diagnosis, home therapy and long-term follow-up. — China Daily/ANN
