Society

China to restructure 550 psychiatric hospitals

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-06-21 15:17

China will rebuild and restructure 550 psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric departments of general hospitals over the next two years to deal with the growing number of people suffering from severe mental illness who receive no treatment, Xinhuanet.com reported Monday.

Yin Li, Vice- Health Minister said at a working conference on the social security and stability that as incidents caused by mental patients in some areas are becoming more and more serious, the nation needs to beef up its medical services as well as management work of mental patients by setting up another 550 psychiatric hospitals and related departments in general hospitals in next two years.

Management of patients, establishment of psychiatric hospitals, guarantee of patients' fees and mental health services remain the key priorities in preventing and treating mental illnesses.