The government plans to start a national health care programme for the elderly, with a corpus of Rs 100 crore, during the Tenth Five-Year-Plan period.
The working group on non-communicable diseases has proposed 100 per cent central government funding for the programme. The group has also recommended that state governments be provided funds for health care activities for the elderly, with adequate monitoring by the health ministry.
With the number of old people increasing over time, there is a need for the government to focus on their health needs.
The aged constitute over 7 per cent of the population and prevalence of chronic diseases among them is quite high.
As part of the proposed national health care programme for the elderly, the group has recommended setting up of geriatric wards in hospitals and providing rehabilitation facilities for older patients with loco motor disabilities, at all district hospitals and sub-divisional hospitals regarding orthopaedic services.
Training programmes for enhancing skills of primary and secondary care physicians and under-graduate and post-graduate training programmes for all health professionals, to include care of the elderly, are also on the agenda.
The working group has suggested that a pilot study be carried out in some states by a central apex institution in the first year of the plan (2002-03), with the health ministry in charge of overall supervision.
The educational component of the programme will be carried out by the Medical Council of India, Nursing Council of India, Dental Council of India, National Board of Examination and statutory authorities involved in the curriculum planning and monitoring of training of other health professionals.
In-service training programmes will be carried out by nodal agencies in states and at the Centre. The existing training material will be upgraded from time to time and modified on the basis of feedback from the ground level.
Availability of traditional systems of medicine for older patients in some of the existing hospitals and dispensaries along with provision of newer facilities in some districts have also been proposed. Incorporation of health promotion guidelines for existing old age mass awareness programmes and creation of new awareness programmes is on the anvil.
The proposal for the Tenth Plan envisages implementation of a major part of the National Policy on Older Persons. The policy, which was announced in January 1999, envisages a major role for non-governmental and voluntary organisations.
