Transforming long-term post-acute care for the aging population through home infusion therapy in China: an assessment of need and demand (Part 1).

BACKGROUND

China's healthcare system is confronting a rising burden of antimicrobial resistance, chronic complex diseases, and an aging population requiring long-term, post-acute care. As a value-based care model in the USA for over 50 years, home infusion therapy (HIT), combined with home health services (HHS), presents a sustainable alternative to prolonged hospitalization for intravenous medication administration. In this two-part narrative review, Part 1 provides a needs assessment describing the demographic, clinical, and public health factors driving the demand for HIT and HHS in China.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search up to January 2026 using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure.

RESULTS

In Part 1, we present the impact of the aging population and chronic conditions requiring prolonged infusion therapy (including cancer, malnutrition and infections like osteomyelitis, endocarditis, and bacteremia) on the rising antimicrobial resistance, hospital burden and healthcare expenditures. Through the patient-centric solution of HIT and HHS, patients can receive intravenous medications and nutrition in the comfort of their homes, enabling the continuity of care beyond the hospital. Services include outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy, hospice and palliative care in patients with cancer, and management of nutritional needs through total parenteral nutrition. Under this care model, reimbursement is tied to success in improved patient outcomes and reduced hospital readmissions. A detailed reimbursement and cost-effectiveness considerations are addressed in Part 2 of this review.

CONCLUSION

With proper infrastructure development and reimbursement mechanisms that align payment with value, HIT and HHS could mitigate antimicrobial resistance, and transform and sustain affordable care delivery in China, especially for older adults and those with chronic conditions.Part 2 is available at https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1761870.