Transforming long-term post-acute care for the aging population through home infusion therapy in China: assurance for quality and safety of care delivery (Part 2).

BACKGROUND

China's healthcare system may benefit from the integration of home infusion therapy (HIT) combined with home health services (HHS) to address the urgent need for a sustainable long-term, post-acute care model for the aging population and those with chronic complex diseases. In this Part 2, we presented the current landscape of home- and community-based care models in China and formulated recommendations for successful implementation of HIT and HHS.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search up to October 2025 using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure.

RESULTS

To address the urgent need to support aging at home, China has initiated home- and community-based services nationwide. Despite these services, including a pilot of hospital-at-home, utilization remains low due to limited facilities, suboptimal service quality, and inadequate promotion. Notably, HIT and HHS that provide outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy and total parenteral nutrition at home, and chemotherapy at infusion centers have not been adopted in China; yet this value-based modality has existed in western countries (including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, among others) for decades to provide patient-centric care that is safe and cost-effective. Implementing HIT requires a robust accreditation system, sterile compounding standards, technological integration, and professional training to ensure patient safety and quality of care.

CONCLUSION

The shift of care from hospitals to homes through HIT supported by HHS holds great potential to alleviate healthcare costs, reduce hospital burden, and enhance patient comfort and dignity in China.Part 1 is available at https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1761871.