Thursday, November 5, 2009

Geriatric wards to be set up at major hospitals



Chief Minister K Rosaiah receiving a copy of book on Geriatrics from MLA P. Shankar Rao, who is also the president of Geriatric Society.


HYDERABAD: Here is some good news for senior citizens. The State Government plans to establish `geriatric wards’ at all major hospitals in the State.This was revealed by Chief Minister K Rosaiah today during the 13th annual national conference of Geriatric Society of India.As it is not possible to establish wards in all the hospitals of the State, the Government plans to establish them at least in major hospitals.He also recalled that most of the senior citizens Below Poverty Line (BPL) are covered under Arogyasri.Participating in the event Secenderabad Cantonment MLA, P Shankar, who is also an alumni of Gandhi Medical College, proposed to Rosaiah to introduce bachelor and post-graduate geriatric courses in NTR Health University.According to Geriatric Society of India, life expectancy in India at the time of Independence was 21 years and gradually it has increased to 51 years.Though Constitution guarantees care to elders but in reality it is not implemented. P S Shankar, President of the Geriatric Society, said there is a need for old-age homes especially in rural areas.

Courtesy by: Express News Service

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