Subsidy promotes care of mentally ill

Guardians of people suffering serious mental disorders in Beijing may be eligible for a 2,400 yuan ($370) annual subsidy from the municipal government if they have delivered proper care, the city's Commission of Health and Family Planning said on Monday.

The subsidy is expected to encourage good care of the estimated 58,000 people with serious mental disorders in Beijing and reduce accidents, said Gao Xiaojun, the commission's spokesman.

The measure, which was introduced at the end of last year, has been carried out in some areas of Beijing since February and will eventually go citywide, according to the commission.