Gujarat launches new healthcare project for elderly people

1 Mar

OUR BUREAU

Citizens above 70 years will get all basis health facilities at their doorstep

AHMEDABAD, MAY 16

The Gujarat government has launched a unique initiative to provide doorstep primary healthcare assistance for elderly people. A pilot project for the same is launched for Gandhinagar urban area.

Announcing the initiative, the Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister, Nitin Patel, said, “Citizens above 70 years need to get themselves registered with the government hospital by paying a token amount of Rs 1,000. Under the scheme, they will be provided all the basic health facilities at their doorstep by trained attendants, staff nurse and doctors.”

The decision is taken considering the growing population of senior citizens and lonely elders. A team consisting of a doctor, staff nurse and an attendant, would visit the elderly every fortnight at their doorstep for routine check-up and provide them necessary guidance and consultancy for better health practices.

In case of an emergency situation, the team would visit the patient for a visit fee of Rs 200. “The team would also carry all the requisite equipment with them. In certain cases, they will provide primary treatment as well as carry out primary health check-ups, including monitoring blood pressure, ECG etc, besides collecting their samples for further tests,” Patel said.