Shanghai Expands Elderly Medical Companion Service Citywide

Shanghai has officially launched a comprehensive elderly medical companion service, opening subsidized medical escort services to all residents aged 60 and above regardless of household registration, as the city grapples with the challenges of a rapidly aging population. The policy, which took effect on July 1, 2026, has already trained over 1,700 certified medical companions, with some seniors becoming repeat customers who have used the service more than 30 times.

A New Model for Elderly Care

The “Plan on Comprehensively Promoting Elderly Medical Companion Services,” developed by the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau in coordination with multiple municipal agencies, represents a significant expansion of a pilot program launched in 2025. According to China News Service, the plan establishes a formal framework for what was previously an informal and unregulated activity.

Unlike many public services in China that are tied to the hukou (household registration) system, the companion service is available to all seniors — including those traveling from other provinces for medical treatment. This universal access provision sets a progressive precedent for elderly care policy in China.

Real-World Impact

During the pilot phase in Pudong New Area, over 7,000 person-times of service were provided, with monthly volumes reaching several hundred cases. The most striking indicator of demand is repeat usage: the most frequent customer has used the service more than 30 times.

Zhang Yanyan, Director of the Shanghai Elderly Care Human Resources Service Security Center (Pudong Center), recounted one senior’s journey from skepticism to loyal patronage. “An elderly man’s children placed an order for him, but he felt it was too expensive and didn’t want to accept it. Staff invited him to try it for free first, saying they could refund the money if he wasn’t satisfied. Later, this senior became a loyal customer and even referred several other seniors.”

Medical companions do far more than simple errand-running. Wang Guxin, a certified medical companion, explained: “Some seniors were skeptical at first, thinking the companion service was just errand-running, but it’s not. During medical visits, most elderly patients can’t fully understand the doctor’s professional terminology and instructions. We organize the precautions and follow-up appointment times into a checklist and inform both the senior and their children.”

Dr. Lan Xiucai, a geriatrician at Renji Hospital, confirmed the value of the service. As reported by 21st Century Business Herald, she noted that companions help bridge communication gaps between elderly patients and doctors, saving time and preventing errors.

Pricing and Accessibility

The policy establishes a multi-tiered pricing model. Standard market rates are set at 280 yuan (approximately $39) for a two-hour session including round-trip transport, with additional hours at 50 yuan. Some districts offer public-benefit rates as low as 99 yuan for two hours. Districts like Changning have integrated booking into the “Suishenban” government app, with tiered pricing options.

According to Labor Daily, the policy requires service providers to display pricing transparently and to consider seniors’消费能力 (spending capacity) when setting rates. Low-income and destitute seniors can access the service through the elderly services subsidy system.

Professionalization and Regulation

The policy moves medical companionship from an informal activity to a recognized profession. Key measures include inclusion in Shanghai’s special vocational ability assessment system, mandatory training and certification, uniform identity badges, and minimum staffing requirements of at least five companions per agency.

Sun Liting, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau’s Elderly Services Division, acknowledged ongoing challenges. “On one hand, there are ‘scalpers’ and ticket brokers in the market selling specialist appointment slots under the guise of medical companions, causing public misunderstanding of the service — this needs further regulation. On the other hand, Shanghai has a high degree of aging, and the current volume of medical companions is far from meeting market demand.”

The policy explicitly bans using companion services for illegal appointment scalping and requires hospitals to strengthen identification and prevention measures.

Broader Implications

Professor Lu Jiehua of Renmin University’s Institute of Gerontology told 21st Century Business Herald that Shanghai’s medical companion service “aligns with the major direction of improving quality and efficiency in elderly services during the ‘15th Five-Year Plan’ period. Many seniors are now empty-nesters, widowed, or living alone, making medical assistance a very important need.”

China’s elderly population has surpassed 300 million, accounting for over 20% of the total population. Shanghai, with its higher proportion of elderly residents, faces particular urgency in developing comprehensive elderly care infrastructure.

What’s Next

Shanghai aims to have all districts establish working mechanisms and service networks for medical companion services by the end of 2026, with a target of achieving full, standardized supply citywide by 2030. Key challenges ahead include scaling the workforce from 1,700 to meet projected demand, maintaining quality across 300+ service institutions, and ensuring affordability for middle- and low-income seniors over the long term.

The Shanghai model is being closely watched by other Chinese cities as a potential template for national replication, though questions remain about how smaller cities with fewer resources might adapt the approach.