By Rebecca Cox, produced for online by Ainsley O’Keefe

More than eight million people over the age of 80, China’s aging population is increasing too fast to keep up with health care provisions.

Facing problems in particular with hip replacements and heart attacks, Australia could play a part in China’s health care solution.

Australian Medical Association president Steve Hambleton says there is good correlation between Chinese and Australian health issues, however he says helping China could easily overwhelm the health system.

“I think that China and Australia are going to be sharing similar health problems, as both of our populations age, and we know that China had a possibility of decreasing the population by decreasing the number of children,” he said

“That means they are going to be heavily overweighed with older people, and that bubble, as is our baby boomers is going to be a problem.”

His comments follow calls by Sydney’s Menzies Centre for Health Policy director, Stephen Leeder  who says Australia could help China improve their geriatric health.

“There are different ways of managing fractured hips, I guess we would be very happy to share the insights that Australia has in that regard and probably learn something in the process,” he said.

University of Technology, Sydney Professor of Aged and Extended Care Nursing and director of health and aging research unit Lyn Chenoweth says China should look to Australia’s health system for help.

“Given that the health system is pretty much funded from the tax payer dollar, we are doing quiet a remarkable service,” she said.

“I think a lot of countries can learn how better to structure their services, and how to improve the quality of services for older people, by looking at what Australia is doing right now.

“I feel Australia can offer a lot in terms of expertise on how to set up systems, how to develop policies and how to develop care services that actually meet the needs of older people.”