thenewsbit.com

Blog

  • Trump’s H-1B fee hike alarms US Healthcare

    Trump’s H-1B fee hike alarms US Healthcare

    The Trump administration’s plan to dramatically raise fees for H-1B visas is drawing concern from US healthcare groups who say the move could worsen staffing shortages as more than half of healthcare workers consider changing jobs within the next year.

    The US Department of Homeland Security is reviewing policy changes that would increase the cost of applying for H-1B visas to as much as $100,000 from the current top of $4,500. The H-1B program allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialty fields like technology, engineering, medicine, and academia.

    The visas are widely used by the US healthcare sector to recruit international medical graduates or foreign-trained doctors and other professionals trained abroad.

    The American Academy of Family Physicians emphasized that international medical graduates account for more than one-fifth of practicing family doctors and are disproportionately likely to serve in rural areas.

    Fee increase impact on doctor numbers
    US Citizenship and Immigration Services reported that in fiscal year 2025 there were about 442,000 unique H-1B visa beneficiaries across all sectors, with 5,640 petitions approved in the healthcare and social assistance industry alone.

    The influential American Medical Association warned that fees as high as $100,000 could choke off the international physician pipeline.

    “With the US already facing a shortage of doctors, making it harder for international medical graduates to train and practice here means patients will wait longer and drive farther to get care,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala.

    Hospital and doctor groups warned that the fee increase could sharply reduce the number of foreign-trained doctors entering the US system. For many hospitals already stretched thin, that could also mean fewer specialists and higher burdens on domestic medical staff.

    The American Hospital Association said hospitals rely on the program as a short-term measure to fill gaps in the workforce.

    “The H-1B visa program plays a critical role in allowing the hospital field to recruit highly skilled physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure access to care for communities and patients,” an AHA spokesperson said, adding that the group is pushing for exemptions to the increase for healthcare personnel.

    “Nearly 21 million Americans live in areas of the US where foreign-trained physicians account for at least half of all physicians,” the AAFP said.

    Many hospital systems have been contending with staffing pressures since the Covid-19 pandemic. Several, including OhioHealth, Cleveland Clinic, Cedars-Sinai, and Mass General Brigham told Reuters they are assessing what the administration’s changes will mean for their operations.

    The US could be short 13,500 to 86,000 physicians by 2036 as demand grows faster than supply, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Reuters

  • ICC takes action against USA cricket board

    ICC takes action against USA cricket board

    The ICC has finally decided to suspend USA Cricket (USAC), in the process hitting the reset button as it attempts to overhaul the leadership and governance structure of the sport in a key market. The decision was taken by the ICC Board after a virtual meeting on Tuesday. USAC’s suspension will not impact the national team’s participation in the T20 World Cup starting in February in India and Sri Lanka or the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

    The suspension comes just over two months after the ICC, at its annual general meeting in July, had granted USAC three months to hold “free and fair elections” and carry out “comprehensive” governance reforms. At the time, the ICC reiterated that USAC would continue to remain “on notice”, as it has been since July 2024. The ICC Board also warned USAC that it reserved the right to take any action it deemed fit based on the progress of reforms.

    Eventually, on Tuesday evening, the ICC suspended USAC with “immediate effect” and temporarily took over “management and administration of USA national teams.”

    “The decision, taken by the ICC Board during its meeting earlier, was based on USA Cricket’s repeated and continued breaches of its obligations as an ICC Member under the ICC’s Constitution,” an ICC press release said. “These include, but are not limited to, the failure to implement a functional governance structure, lack of progress toward achieving National Governing Body status with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and significant actions that have caused reputational damage to cricket in the United States and around the world.”

    The suspension does not have an immediate impact on cricket being part of the LA 2028 Games. The ICC clarified that USA teams will still be able to participate in ICC events as well as make preparations for the Olympics. Calling it “unfortunate but necessary” the ICC said it was forced to take such extreme action to “protect the long-term interests of the game and the ICC’s top priority remains ensuring that the athletes and the sport itself are not impacted due to the suspension.”

    During the time USAC had been put on notice, the ICC had been working with it to draw a “roadmap” and facilitate its securing national governing body (NGB) status from the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). This is mandatory for all sports that were added to LA28 Games. As hosts, USA are expected to be one of the six teams to contest for medals in both men’s and women’s categories.

    That roadmap, which comprises six steps, was drawn by the ICC’s Normalisation Committee, headed by chairman Jay Shah. Prior to that, the committee met USAC top brass Venu Pisike (chairman) and Johnathan Atkeison (CEO) twice – first in April virtually and then in person in June. The roadmap called for USAC to start an organisational revamp by bringing in three new independent directors to replace the incumbents on the Board. Following that the USAC Board would step down and prompt fresh elections. At this point USAC would apply for NGB status.

    Simultaneously, the ICC also said a comprehensive review and reform of the USA Cricket Constitution “shall be undertaken” in close consultation with the Independent Directors and relevant ICC stakeholders. With USAC unable to meet these terms, it was suspended.

    USAC was being considered for suspension at the ICC’s AGM in July and only managed its three-month reprieve by making “commitments” to the ICC Board to meet the criteria required for membership.

    “When USAC was notified of the AGM’s decision,” the ICC press release said, “it was specifically advised in writing that, along with fulfilling the commitments it made to the Board and taking immediate steps in that respect, it must (i) not do/omit to do anything that might jeopardise cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics, and (ii) not do anything (by act or omission) that brings cricket or the ICC into disrepute or is contrary to the best interests of cricket or the ICC.”

    For USAC to lift its suspension, it will need to follow procedure that the Normalisation Committee, in coordination with the ICC management, will outline and which “will include demonstrable and specific changes to USA Cricket’s governance structure, operations and overall status in the Cricket ecosystem. The normalisation committee will also monitor USA Cricket’s progress and provide consultatory support.

    “The ICC remains committed to supporting the growth of cricket in the United States, protect the sporting ecosystem and its constituents, namely the athletes and bolstering its march towards a more significant role on the global stage.” ESPNcricinfo

  • Sign-language showdown: India beats Pakistan

    Sign-language showdown: India beats Pakistan

    First on the battlefield, and then on the cricket field, India has outsmarted, and even struck Pakistan where it hurts the most. Months after the military drubbing in Operation Sindoor, where Indian forces dismantled Pakistan’s terror havens and left Pakistani forces crippled, Indian cricketers too have given a fitting reply to their Pakistani counterparts’ unprovoked audacity. They not only defeated Pakistan twice in a span of a week, Indian players also won the sign-language war with their arch rivals.

    In a viral video shared on social media, Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh made headlines for a fiery on-field gesture during the Super 4 clash against Pakistan on Sunday. Fans interpreted Arshdeep’s action as a response to Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf, who had made a gesture, suggesting Pakistan striking down Indian jets during the four-day mini-war in May.

    It seemed Arshdeep’s “reply” nulled the relentless Pakistani taunts, just like India’s Akashteer Air Defence Control and Reporting System killed the drones and missiles shot from across the border.

    India countered Pakistan’s disinformation during the mini-war with concrete facts, figures, and evidence.

    Rauf’s taunt, aimed at the Indian team and fans earlier in the match, was later countered by Arshdeep’s gesture. The on-field sledging and aggression of Pakistan bowlers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sahibzada Farhan pointing his bat like an AK-47 gun, were duly answered by the Indian batters.

    The action of the Pakistani cricketers revealed how militarisation of the country and the jihadi mindset had seeped seeped into the cricket team.

    Though the actions of the Pakistanis were abominable, the Indians replied in their own language, not that of the rivals’.

    Pak’s Sledging and Gestures Have Met India’s Savage Retorts
    The Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 match in Dubai on September 21 turned into a cauldron of rivalry. The India team’s refusal to shake hands triggered the Pakistanis.

    The Pakistani players went hard on provocations, which drew sharp retorts, but in Indian style.

    Haris Rauf, irked by “Kohli-Kohli” chants from Indian fans, twice mimicked a fighter jet crashing and flashed a “6-0” sign, claiming the alleged Pakistani downing of six Indian jets in the May mini-war.

    Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan, too, amplified the tension, brandishing his bat like an AK-47, “firing” toward the Indian dugout. The gesture was slammed for Pakistani mujahid mentality and as a glorification for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

    Farhan later shrugged it off, saying, “Mujhe parwah nahi” (I don’t care), insisting it was “aggressive cricket”.

    Pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi joined the verbal barrage, exchanging barbs with Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma after being smashed for boundaries.

    India, chasing 172, won by six wickets with Abhishek and Gill dominating. Post-match, Arshdeep’s cheeky “aeroplane crash” gesture trolling Rauf, went viral. The clip amassed millions of views as a “savage reply”.

    “Arshdeep Singh came late, but brutally trolled Haris Rauf with his actions,” a parody account on X.

    India’s battering of Pakistan on the pitch, capped by Arshdeep’s hard-hitting gesture, showed the unflappable edge India showed in the four-day mini-war, where the military too gave its “sign” response to Pakistan. India could have destroyed Pakistan’s military infrastructure, but it just crippled it and presented signs of its capabilities with controlled and precision strikes.

    India’s sign-language war and composure trumped Pakistan’s antics.

    India’s Op Sindoor Reply to Pak Turned Missiles Into Dud; Debunked Disinformation
    Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 was India’s tri-service blitz against nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), where it decimated terror hubs of JeM, LeT, and Hizbul Mujahideen avenging the Pahalgam attack that saw terrorists killing 26 civilians. Indian strikes killed more than 100 terrorists, including JeM chief Masood Azhar’s family, in 25 minutes.

    Later, when a rattled Pakistan tried to hit India’s civilian and military infrastructure, using missiles and drones, New Delhi’s comprehensive air defence systems, like the S400 and the indigenous Akashteer, shot them all down.

    Pakistani retaliatory bombs turned into duds.

    Air Force Chief AP Singh confirmed the four-day halt after objectives were met, and avoided an escalation.

    Apart from the kinetic attacks, Pakistan’s disinformation campaign was debunked using satellite imagery (Maxar, KAWASPACE) showing the terrorist camp in ruins. Further, the LeT and JeM’s admission of losses exposed the farce, validating India’s evidence-led narrative.

    From the battlefield to the cricket field, India showed that its “sign-language” speaks louder than Pakistan’s provocations, be it abuses or missiles. Whether in war or cricket, the archrival must have known by now that India always delivers a fitting reply in its own style. India Today

  • 4th Year of Disney+ price increases announced

    4th Year of Disney+ price increases announced

    Walt Disney, opens new tab said on Tuesday it will raise prices for its flagship Disney+ streaming service in the United States next month, as the entertainment giant pushes to bolster profits from its digital platforms.

    Starting October 21, the ad-supported Disney+ plan will increase by $2 to $11.99 per month, while the ad-free premium tier will rise $3 to $18.99 a month. Annual premium subscriptions will jump $30 to $189.99.

    Bundled packages combining Disney+ with Hulu and ESPN+ will also see price hikes, according to the company’s website.

    Disney is facing heightened public scrutiny following the recent controversy over the temporary removal of Jimmy Kimmel Live! from ABC, which sparked calls to even boycott the company’s services.

    Disney+ launched in November 2019 at $6.99 per month, gradually raising its prices since then as part of a broader strategy to stem losses and turn streaming into a growth engine. Its streaming business had achieved profitability for the first time last year

    It is the fourth consecutive year Disney has raised its subscription prices. The company imposed a 38% price hike in December 2022, followed by further increases in October of 2023 and 2024. Reuters

  • Netflix partners with AB InBev in worldwide brand deal

    Netflix partners with AB InBev in worldwide brand deal

    AB InBev and Netflix, Inc. today announced a global partnership bringing together the world’s most iconic beer brands with one of the world’s most popular entertainment services. The partnership is unprecedented in the global reach and scale of activations across AB InBev’s portfolio of brands.

    Both AB InBev and Netflix bring people together through shared passions like sports, food, music, and comedy. Together, the companies will create even more enjoyable experiences for legal drinking age fans around the world and connect with audiences in new and exciting ways.

    “Streaming is a social and shared experience — it’s an occasion where beer and entertainment come together,” said Marcel Marcondes, Global Chief Marketing Officer of AB InBev. “This partnership is an opportunity for our brands to create deeper experiences with consumers and more moments of cheers while they watch the content that shapes culture.”

    Through its global brand portfolio, AB InBev will collaborate with Netflix on co-marketing campaigns that will come to life across a variety of Netflix’s most popular global and regional titles like “The Gentlemen” from the UK, “Brasil 70 – A Saga do Tri” from Brazil, “Culinary Class Wars” from South Korea among others. The partnership will include consumer activations, title integrations, limited-edition packaging, digital promotions, and more.

    Netflix and AB InBev will also partner on co-branded campaigns around Netflix live events. In Mexico, Cerveza Victoria was recently a presenting sponsor for the Canelo vs. Crawford matchup. AB InBev will also advertise during Netflix’s 2025 live NFL Christmas Game Day 2025. The companies will also collaborate on some of the world’s biggest events like the 2027 Women’s World Cup on Netflix.

    “We’re always looking for creative ways to build our brand and connect with fans, to keep fueling the fandom that comes from our great shows, thrilling movies, and can’t-miss live events,” said Marian Lee, Chief Marketing Officer at Netflix. “The popularity of our titles allows us to pierce the cultural zeitgeist in ways few others can, and a great partnership can make that even better. We are super excited about creating attention-grabbing campaigns with AB InBev that are just as unique, fun, and creative as the shows and movies they support.” Business Wire

  • MultiChoice South Africa gets new board after Canal+ takeover

    MultiChoice South Africa gets new board after Canal+ takeover

    French media group Canal+ (CAN.L), opens new tab on Monday announced a new board to steer South African broadcaster MultiChoice (MCGJ.J), opens new tab after taking control of the company through a 35 billion rand ($2.02 billion) acquisition.

    The takeover gives Canal+ a dominant foothold in Africa’s fast-growing pay-TV market, where MultiChoice operates across 50 countries. It also marks a major step in Canal+’s strategy to become a top five global entertainment player, its CEO Maxime Saada said on a media call.

    The combined group will serve more than 40 million subscribers across nearly 70 countries in Africa, Europe and Asia.

    Canal+ owned 46% of MultiChoice as of September 19, with another 2.2% of shares tendered in its favour since, giving the London-listed company effective control of the TV broadcaster, the companies said on Monday.

    The shares still to be tendered into the offer, which is now unconditional, will further increase Canal+’s stake.

    MultiChoice implemented a reorganisation of its South African operations this month in line with conditions laid out by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal in July to approve the takeover.

    The MultiChoice group board now includes four new directors, including David Mignot as CEO and Nicolas Dandoy as Chief Financial Officer. Saada will become the chair, the companies said.

    Outgoing MultiChoice Group CEO Calvo Mawela has been appointed as the chair of Canal+’s African operations, which includes MultiChoice. Mignot and Dandoy will respectively be CEO and CFO of Canal+ Africa.

    The outgoing MultiChoice CFO, Timothy Jacobs, will continue to hold a senior position in the combined group’s finance department, the companies said.

    A more detailed update on the combined group’s strategy will be provided in the first quarter of next year, Saada added. MultiChoice’s partnership with U.S. media conglomerate Comcast will continue. Reuters

  • Internet curbs by Taliban hit Afghan women hard

    Internet curbs by Taliban hit Afghan women hard

    In a dim home used as a small business in Afghanistan, women bent over bright cloth use needles to form intricate embroidery. But their fibre-optic network in Kandahar – their primary link to buyers – has now gone dark.

    Local government officials confirmed a ban on fibre-optic services in five northern provinces – Balkh, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Takhar and Baghlan. Officials said the ban is to prevent “immoral activities.” Residents in other provinces, including Kandahar, Herat and Parwan have reported disruptions, though these have not been formally acknowledged by authorities.

    The loss of access to the fibre-optic network has stranded thousands of homes, businesses and schools and left them reliant on costly, patchy mobile phone connections.

    The measure is the first large-scale internet shutdown since the Islamist group seized power in 2021, though it is not nationwide.

    For Sabrinna Hayat, who runs Hayat Handicrafts with nine women breadwinners stitching firaq partug, the long embroidered dresses commonly worn by Afghan women, along with other handmade items, the outage has tripled internet costs.

    She said her group used to receive orders from Afghanistan and abroad but now must repeatedly activate mobile internet packages that cost three times as much as fibre, just to keep up with customers.

    “A complete ban has been imposed on fibre-optic cable … This action has been taken to prevent immoral activities, and an alternative solution will be developed within the country to meet necessary needs,” Haji Zaid, a spokesman for the governor of the Balkh province said last week.

    The Kunduz provincial media office issued a similar statement. The Ministry of Communications in Kabul did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Across town, a tailor who asked to be identified only by her family name Dawrani, said her workshop employing widows and women in need has been gutted, given that sales and orders depend on connectivity.

    “If I cannot even earn this small piece of bread, I will be forced to leave this country,” she said.

    The internet has been a lifeline for students, especially girls barred from secondary schools and universities, but the shutdown has cut off even that option in northern Afghanistan.

    Dawrani said her daughters were no longer able to take their online English classes.

    Digital rights advocates say the Taliban’s reasoning is less about morality than about control.

    Obaidullah Baheer, a Kabul-based academic, said the ban echoed earlier Taliban moves that used immorality as justification for restrictions, including on women’s education, and were followed by promises of reform that never materialised.

    “It shows a very anti-modern version of the Taliban. Seems like their fight is against modernity and they’re fitting the bill of people who used to call them draconian.”

    For some women, the debate is distant.

    “Through this tailoring work, I managed to put food on the table. Without internet, even that may disappear,” said Dawrani. Reuters

  • Trump’s Autism claims refuted by EU and WHO

    Trump’s Autism claims refuted by EU and WHO

    European Union and British health agencies confirmed the safety of paracetamol during pregnancy, disputing a warning from U.S. President Donald Trump linking the popular pain medication to autism.
    The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that evidence of a link remained inconsistent and urged caution in drawing conclusions.

    Trump had on Monday linked autism to childhood vaccine use and the taking of Tylenol by women when pregnant, elevating claims not backed by scientific evidence to the forefront of U.S. health policy.

    The European Medicines Agency said on Tuesday that there was no new evidence that would require changes to the region’s current recommendations for the use of paracetamol, known as Tylenol in the United States, during pregnancy.

    “Available evidence has found no link between the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism,” the EMA said in a statement, adding paracetamol could be used during pregnancy when needed, though at the lowest effective dose and frequency. On Monday, Britain’s health regulator said that it was safe to use.
    “The evidence remains inconsistent,” WHO spokesperson Tarik JaSarević told a Geneva press briefing when asked about a possible link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism.

    He cited unspecified studies that pointed to a possible link but said that this was not confirmed by subsequent research. “This lack of replicability really calls for caution in drawing casual conclusions,” he said.

    In a highly unusual press conference at the White House on Monday, Trump delivered medical advice to pregnant women and parents of young children, repeatedly telling them not to use or administer the painkiller and suggesting that common vaccines not be taken together or so early in a child’s life.

    The advice from Trump goes against that of medical societies, which have cited data from numerous studies showing that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, plays a safe role in the well-being of pregnant women.

    Asked to elaborate further on Trump’s remarks, JaSarević added that vaccines did not cause autism and affirmed their life-saving qualities. “This is something that science has proven, and these things should not be really questioned,” he added. Reuters

  • MP govt expands hospital staff: 354 doctors

    MP govt expands hospital staff: 354 doctors

    In a significant move to address the shortage of medical faculty across government institutions, the Madhya Pradesh government has approved the creation of 354 senior resident doctor posts in key hospitals of cities, including Bhopal, Gwalior, and Jabalpur.

    The decision is expected to bolster both healthcare delivery and medical education in the state. Until now, government hospitals in Madhya Pradesh lacked designated posts for resident doctors — a critical requirement for medical professionals aspiring to become faculty members in medical colleges.

    As per current norms, doctors must complete a one-year residency to qualify for teaching roles in medical colleges.

    The absence of such opportunities had led to a bottleneck in faculty development, despite the growing number of medical colleges in the state.

    “This is a significant decision,” said Kailash Vijayvargia, urban development minister and government spokesperson, after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

    He further said, “Without senior resident positions, doctors were unable to acquire the necessary practical experience, which in turn affected the formation of qualified faculty.”

    The newly sanctioned posts will allow hospitals to absorb senior resident doctors, creating a surplus of trained professionals who can transition into academic roles. This move is expected to ease the faculty crunch and improve the quality of medical education, the minister further said.

    Officials believe the initiative will have a cascading effect; hospitals will benefit from additional hands-on care, while medical colleges will gain access to experienced educators.

    The dual role of resident doctors — providing services and teaching — will enhance both patient care and academic rigour.

    With the healthcare sector expanding rapidly and new medical colleges being established across the state, the demand for qualified faculty has never been higher. The government’s decision to institutionalise senior residency is seen as a strategic step toward long-term capacity building. Initially, the posts will be distributed across major government hospitals in Bhopal, Gwalior, and Jabalpur, with implementation expected to begin shortly. All medical colleges which are in the offing will also benefit from the resident doctors. The Hans India

  • Hospitals in China move to companion-free care system

    Hospitals in China move to companion-free care system

    China’s hospitals are piloting “companion-free” care services to ease the heavy caregiving burden on families.

    In the colorectal and anal surgery ward at Xiangya Hospital in central China’s Hunan Province, nursing assistant Lu Zhidun carefully checks the ostomy bag of a bedridden patient under postoperative care.

    “Our daily work involves providing round-the-clock non-medical care for inpatients, such as feeding, dressing, basic hygiene and repositioning to prevent bedsores. Monitoring the patients’ condition is also a key part of our role. If we notice that a patient is uncomfortable, we must alert the doctors and nurses immediately,” Lu told Xinhua.

    Xiangya Hospital launched the service in April 2025, earning praise from patients’ families. “Thanks to the professional nursing assistants, my wife has recovered very well,” said Xie, whose wife was undergoing treatment in the inpatient department. He added that the initiative has greatly eased the heavy burden of caregiving for families.

    Previously, families of inpatients, overwhelmed by the challenge of balancing work and caregiving, had to hire private caregivers, whose services were often costly and lacked professional standards.

    To address this issue, Chinese health authorities began allowing hospitals to hire and train nursing assistants in 2023. In 2024, they introduced national standards to tighten qualification requirements for this new occupation.

    Under the standards, aspiring nursing assistants seeking entry-level certification must complete a minimum of 150 hours of combined theoretical training and practical hands-on experience.

    Xiangya Hospital requires aspiring nursing assistants to undergo on-the-job training and allows them to start working only after passing the certification exam, explained Yue Liqing, head of the hospital’s nursing department, adding that this initiative helps caregivers transition from informal helpers to professional caregivers.

    “After these caregivers are hired, I also organize a nursing lecture for them every two weeks to help improve their skills and prevent issues that occurred in the past,” said Su Si, head nurse of the colorectal and anal surgery ward at Xiangya Hospital.

    Su noted that the turnover rate among informal caregivers had been high. They previously had no dedicated space for rest or meals, leading to an unsatisfactory situation. To address this, the department repurposed an idle area for caregivers to eat and rest, reflecting a more human-centred approach and helping improve the quality of their service.

    Zhu Guifang, another nursing assistant at this hospital, said, “Now, we can only provide services to patients in this one department, which gives us a sense of belonging. At the same time, we are more familiar with the doctors and nurses in the department, making communication more convenient.”

    Earlier, the cost of one-on-one patient care could reach 320 yuan (about 44.96 U.S. dollars) per day. However, a 2024 national guideline introduced government-regulated pricing for hospital-provided services, significantly reducing costs and helping to close gaps in inpatient care.

    “Now, with government-regulated pricing, the service at Xiangya Hospital costs 154 yuan per day, significantly reducing inpatient expenses,” Yue said.

    In Changsha, the Fourth Hospital of Changsha has been offering “companion-free” care services since 2010, making it the first hospital in Hunan Province to provide this service.

    Tan Liming, president of the hospital, said that over the past 15 years, the “companion-free” care service has delivered remarkable results. “It has not only eased the burden on patients’ families but also improved their hospitalization experience. In the past five years alone, we have provided this service to around 200,000 patients, significantly reducing their caregiving burden,” Tan added.

    At present, six hospitals in Changsha offer this service, and all public hospitals in the city are set to fully implement it, according to Wan Sheng, deputy director of the municipal health commission.

    So far, many big cities and provinces, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Fujian, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Anhui, have already introduced related pilot programs. More regions are expected to follow suit in the near future. Xinhua