The Ministry of Civil Affairs and the National Health Commission recently issued the "Management Measures for Mental Health Welfare Institutions" to further standardize the services provided by mental health welfare institutions. The measures will be implemented from March 1, 2025. On the 22nd, it was learned from the regular press conference of the Ministry of Civil Affairs for the first quarter of 2025 that there are currently 141 mental health welfare institutions in China, with about 74000 beds and over 60000 hospitalized patients. The main target of institutional treatment is mental disorder patients among the extremely impoverished individuals who are responsible for support and assistance by the civil affairs department. The method has refined the scope of service targets for mental health welfare institutions, mainly into three categories: the first is the statutory admission target. It is the statutory duty of mental health welfare institutions to treat and care for patients with mental disorders among the extremely poor. The second is to prioritize the treatment of patients. Under the premise of collecting all legal treatment targets, priority will be given to treating patients with mental disorders among social assistance recipients such as homeless beggars and those receiving minimum living allowances. The third option is to admit patients. Conditional institutions can admit other social patients. It is reported that mental health welfare institutions mainly provide life care, rehabilitation, medical and other services. In terms of daily care, provide services such as diet, living, cleaning, and hygiene for patients with mental disorders, and carry out cultural and recreational activities; In terms of rehabilitation services, based on the patient's wishes and abilities, in-hospital rehabilitation services such as life skills training, social adaptation training, and vocational rehabilitation are carried out; In terms of medical services, mental health welfare institutions must have diagnostic and treatment capabilities, obtain a "Medical Institution Practice License", and provide medical services to patients with mental disorders in accordance with laws and regulations, diagnostic standards, and treatment norms. In addition, in response to the practical problems of manpower shortage in mental health welfare institutions, the measures clearly require that civil affairs departments at or above the county level should coordinate with relevant departments to implement policies and guarantee measures related to talent cultivation and team building in mental health welfare institutions, so that mental health welfare institutions can enjoy equal opportunities for business exchanges, training and education with other medical institutions. At the same time, institutions that meet the conditions shall be given autonomy in employing personnel, and the salaries, allowances, subsidies, and welfare benefits of personnel engaged in rehabilitation, medical care, nursing, social work, management, and other work in the institutions shall be determined in accordance with relevant national regulations. (New Society)