Elderly in Guj to get healthcare services on doorstep

With a view to facilitate senior citizens, the Gujarat Government has launched a unique health plan for elderly in the State, wherein the elderly would get access to primary health monitoring at their doorsteps.

Explaining about the initiative Gujarat’s deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said that those above 70-years in age would need to get themselves registered with government hospital by paying a token amount of Rs 1000 and they would be provided all the basic health facilities at their doorsteps.

As part of the project, a team consisting of a doctor, staff nurse and an attendant, would visit the elderly every fortnight at their homes for routine check up and provide them consultancy for better health practices.

According to Patel the team would also carry all the requisite equipment with them and if required, they would provide primary treatment and also carry out primary health checkups, including monitoring Blood Pressure, ECG etc.

The team would also maintain history of the elderly by way of a health card issued to them. A token fee of Rs 200 would be charged for every such visit and in the beginning the project is being launched in Gandhinagar area as a pilot, before being rolled out across the State.