HYDERABAD: The Osmania Medical College Doctors’ Forum (OMCDF) has asked the union ministry of health and family welfare to set up a regional geriatrics centre at Osmania medical college here. Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, Dr K Suresh, OMCDF president said, the central government has approved the ‘National Programme for Health Care of Elderly’ (NPHCE) to improve health services for senior citizens. The programme has been designed to be preventive, curative and rehabilitative for the elderly and would be implemented across 100 districts of 21 states in the country. But from Andhra Pradesh there are only two districts in the list, Nellore, Vizianagaram that would be benefitted.“In this programme, 21 districts of the state will not be covered. So, OMCDF has been urging the government to set up a regional geriatrics centre at Osmania medical college with help of NGOs.” In March last year, health and family welfare minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had approved the NPHCE to improve health services for the elderly. Under that programme, the government plans to establish eight geriatric care centres across the country. But in AP apart from two districts which will be directly benefited, the rest would be ignored, he said.Funds for all 21 states and eight regional geriatric centres have been sanctioned. So far, funds have been released for 3 geriatric centres. The forum has demanded the state government send a representation to central government for setting up of a regional geriatrics centre at OMC without delay.
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