Give preference to elderly in hospital: NGO

Hospital’s version awaited

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Our Correspondent

Chamba, October 5

The Chamba Welfare Association, an NGO, has alleged that despite government guidelines and notifications, elderly persons are feeling ignored as hardly any preference is given to them in the OPD of the local hospital.

Airing their grievance at a meeting held here today, association president AK Bhardwaj and general secretary SK Kashmiri said writing ‘senior citizen’ on the OPD slip and hanging banners describing about the well-being of older persons would not be sufficient if they were not being looked after well.

They said on International Day of Older Persons observed on October 1, the Central and state governments had released advertisements in various media outlets about the welfare of elderly persons, but at the same time the government should ensure better care of elderly people by getting regular follow-up from its executing departments and agencies.

The office-bearers rued the “apathy” of the authorities for not installing CT scan and MRI machines in the local hospital though funds to the tune of Rs 10 crore had been provided by the NHPC.

They also demanded oncology radiation facility in the hospital, besides posting of cardiologist, neurologist and urologist.