Strengthening the Social Safety Net: anshan’s commitment to people’s Livelihood

Anshan is doubling down on its commitment to improving the lives of its citizens through a series of strategic initiatives focused on employment, healthcare, and social welfare. These efforts,highlighted during a recent press conference,aim to create a robust “guarantee network” that supports the well-being of every resident.

Employment Initiatives: A Multi-Pronged approach

The Municipal human Resources and Social Security Bureau is at the forefront of these efforts, prioritizing employment as a cornerstone of social stability and economic growth. In 2024, the bureau orchestrated 329 recruitment events, resulting in 37,168 new urban jobs.Impressively, over 11,127 recent graduates found employment in Anshan, marking the third consecutive year that this figure has surpassed 10,000.These achievements reflect a concerted effort to not only increase the quantity of jobs but also improve their quality.

Looking ahead to 2025, the bureau plans to launch 34 special employment initiatives, aligning with national and provincial policy directives. A key component of this strategy involves issuing 11 policy documents designed to stabilize employment by connecting existing programs with new initiatives. this includes leveraging subsidies for employment social security, youth employment internships, and vocational skills training, alongside measures such as unemployment insurance premium reductions and public welfare job progress. The goal is to inject at least 150 million yuan in policy dividends to benefit enterprises and stabilize employment.

To bridge the gap between employers and job seekers, Anshan is enhancing its employment guarantee services.The city aims to address over 40,000 employment vacancies by improving its employment demand collection system. This involves utilizing multiple channels, including ten employment protection hotlines, a provincial public employment service network with 430 community access points, and human resources market windows.Moreover, the “Anshan Recruitment 360” campaign will organize at least 360 recruitment activities throughout the year.

A significant focus is placed on assisting key demographics in securing employment. The city aims to create at least 35,000 new urban jobs by leveraging online platforms, live streaming job fairs, and employment buses. Recruitment information will be disseminated daily to college graduates, laid-off workers, migrant workers, and individuals facing employment challenges. The commitment is to connect job seekers with suitable opportunities within 72 hours, ensuring rapid placement. Tailored employment promotion actions will be implemented for each key group to achieve the target of 35,000 new urban jobs.

Healthcare and Social Welfare: Expanding the Safety Net

Beyond employment, Anshan is also committed to strengthening its healthcare and social welfare systems. Specific details regarding these initiatives were expected to be released, further illustrating the city’s holistic approach to improving the quality of life for its residents.

Expert Analysis

Anshan’s proactive approach to employment and social welfare reflects a broader trend among municipalities seeking to enhance citizen well-being and foster economic stability. By focusing on targeted support for key demographics and leveraging a multi-channel approach to job placement, Anshan is setting a positive example for other cities to follow. The success of these initiatives will depend on effective implementation and continuous monitoring to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and that the needs of the community are being met.

“Healthy Anshan”: A City’s Ambitious Healthcare Vision

Anshan is undergoing a significant conversion in its healthcare system, driven by the overarching goal of creating a “Healthy Anshan.” This initiative encompasses a wide range of reforms and improvements, from optimizing medical resources to enhancing the capabilities of public hospitals and expanding access to specialized care. The focus is on improving the health, happiness, and security of its citizens.

County-Level Medical Communities: A New Model for Integrated Care

A cornerstone of Anshan’s healthcare reform is the development of close-knit county-level medical communities.Xiuyan has been designated as a key county in this initiative, with a mandate for all counties to meet stringent standards by the end of 2025. This model emphasizes resource sharing, including:

• Medical testing
• Medical imaging
• Electrocardiogram diagnosis
• Pathological diagnosis
• Disinfection supply

The goal is to ensure that medical imaging centers cover over 80% of township health centers, bringing advanced diagnostic capabilities closer to the community.

Elevating Public Hospital Capabilities: Quality and Specialization

Anshan is committed to enhancing the quality of medical services provided by its public hospitals. This involves strengthening key areas such as chemistry and developing national and provincial key clinical specialties. The city is actively pursuing the establishment of a provincial regional medical center for children and a municipal referral center. Furthermore, efforts are underway to secure three provincial key clinical specialties.

Recent achievements highlight this commitment:

Anshan Tanggangzi Rehabilitation Hospital was awarded the “Liaoning Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital” by the Provincial Health Commission,and Anshan Hospital of Medical University was awarded the title of “liaoning Provincial Burn Diagnosis and Treatment Center Relying on Hospital.”

Customary Chinese Medicine: A Revitalization Effort

Recognizing the value of traditional practices,Anshan is actively revitalizing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This includes improving the TCM service system, implementing specialty construction projects, and ensuring that all relevant public hospitals establish TCM departments. The city is also seeking provincial recognition for key and characteristic TCM specialties.

Key initiatives include:

• Full coverage of TCM physicians in TCM clinics.
• Promoting the establishment of “Traditional Chinese Medicine Pavilion” in community health service stations and village clinics.
• Strengthening the cultivation of TCM talents.
• Ensuring standardized implementation of TCM technical services in township health centers and community health service centers.

The aim is to integrate TCM into mainstream healthcare, making it accessible to a wider population.

protecting Vulnerable Populations: Pediatric, Mental Health, and Geriatric Care

Anshan is prioritizing the health and well-being of key demographic groups through targeted initiatives. This includes annual pediatric and mental health service actions,as well as strengthening services for the elderly.

Pediatric and Mental Health

The city aims to ensure that all second-level and above public extensive hospitals and over 90% of grassroots medical institutions provide pediatric services. Furthermore, efforts are underway to accelerate the construction of psychological and sleep outpatient clinics and to strengthen the management of patients with severe mental disorders. According to the World Health Organization, mental health conditions account for 16% of the global burden of disease and injury in people aged 10-19 years.

Elderly Care

Anshan is committed to improving geriatric care by establishing second-level or above elderly hospitals and ensuring that a significant percentage of hospitals and medical institutions become elderly-pleasant. The goal is to establish geriatric medical departments in a majority of comprehensive hospitals.

Civil Affairs Advancements: A Foundation for Community Well-being

Anshan’s civil affairs system has been proactive in promoting community well-being. The city has been recognized as a pilot for home and community elderly care services and for innovation in the rehabilitation assistance equipment industry.These achievements reflect a commitment to providing comprehensive support to its citizens.

Strengthening the Foundation: An Integrated Elderly Care Network

China is actively developing a comprehensive elderly care service system.This initiative aims to seamlessly integrate home-based,community-based,and institutional care,alongside medical,nursing,and healthcare services. The overarching goal is to enhance the essential quality of life for vulnerable elderly populations, ensuring their well-being and security.

This multifaceted approach recognizes the diverse needs of China’s aging population. By coordinating elderly care and related industries, the government seeks to move beyond basic living assistance, providing personalized services that cater to individual preferences and requirements.This shift reflects a growing understanding of the importance of dignity and autonomy in elderly care.

Expanding Home and Community-Based Services for seniors

A key component of this strategy involves bolstering home and community-based services. The plan includes the establishment of five new street-level regional elderly care service centers. These centers will offer flexible arrangements for short-term care, daycare, and in-home support, tailored to specific needs.

Services such as meal assistance, bathing assistance, cleaning assistance, medical support, and mobility assistance are being expanded. Furthermore, ten new “happy elder” canteens will be established to combat food insecurity and promote social interaction among seniors. The government is also encouraging the growth of large-scale, branded elderly care service providers and guiding existing institutions to extend their services into homes and communities.

This expansion aligns with the increasing demand for accessible and affordable elderly care options. According to a recent report by the China National Committee on Ageing, the number of people aged 60 and over in China is projected to reach 300 million by 2025, highlighting the urgency of these initiatives.

Protecting Vulnerable Children: A Multi-Pronged Approach

The welfare of left-behind, mobile, and or else vulnerable children is another critical focus. The government is implementing monitoring and investigation programs to identify and support these children, emphasizing the importance of parental duty and providing targeted assistance.

A job inquiry system is being established to maintain close contact with minors in difficult situations. Special initiatives are underway to improve mental health care services for these children. Furthermore, efforts are being made to strengthen life guarantees and assistance for seriously ill and disabled children from disadvantaged families.

Child welfare service institutions are being upgraded to provide a wider range of services, including medical rehabilitation and family education guidance. The integration of education, medical care, and rehabilitation services is being promoted to ensure holistic development. The layout of child welfare institutions is being optimized, with resources consolidated to create regional centers of excellence.

Social Assistance: From Survival to Development

China is committed to expanding, improving the quality of, and increasing the efficiency of its social assistance programs. The goal is to transition from simply “maintaining survival” to “maintaining basics, preventing risks, and promoting development.” This involves increasing relief and guarantee efforts and implementing a dynamic adjustment mechanism for the minimum living standard.

Assistance standards for urban and rural residents receiving minimum living security, individuals experiencing extreme poverty, and orphans are being continuously improved. the ratio between urban and rural minimum living security standards is being reduced to within 1.24:1, aiming for greater equity. The basic monthly living standard for urban and rural residents experiencing extreme poverty will be no less than 1.3 times the minimum living standard. Furthermore, support for orphans and children without caregivers will increase by more than 6% on average.

These measures reflect a commitment to reducing inequality and ensuring that all citizens have access to a basic standard of living. By investing in social assistance programs, China aims to create a more inclusive and equitable society.