Separate que for Senior Citizens in Hospitals for all purposes.

First International Day &7^th World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 2012.

                                           (Stop Elder Abuse)

M.V.Ruparelia, A503 RashmiUtsav, Near Jangid Estate & Vijay Park, Mira Road (East), Dist. Thane.401 107.  M. 09821732855. E/Mail: mvrup@yahoo.co.in

To                                                                                               Date:  15-6-12   ShriGulamNabiAzadji,

Hon. Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India,

Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi-110 011.

Respected Sir,

Sub: Abuse of your Elders at local levels.

Senior Citizens of the entire Country are grateful for giving National Programme for Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE). We would request you to give details of its implementation so far & strategy for early implementation.

We shall also be obliged, if proper detailed instructions are issued to Ministries of Railways, Defence etc having separate full-fledged Medical Departments, so that they also start working on this Scheme for their retired employees. 

It is observed that in spite of your Ministry`s instructions to all Stake Holders to ensure that elderly patients are not subjected to long waits and visits to different counters for medical tests & treatment, many Government, Municipal and Charitable Hospitals, Dispensaries, Laboratories, Consultants are not giving any preference to Elder patients and make Elders to wait for long time. Some have provided separate counter for Case Paper & receiving Medicines but not for examination by doctors or pathological tests etc and elders have to wait in que for going to various doctors, X-ray rooms, ECG rooms, pathology department etc for various ailments and checks. We shall be thankful, if proper detailed instructions are issued immediately and reiterated periodically, as one of the important components of Health Policy is information, communication and education of all concerned.

There is absolute and urgent need of special instructions and training to doctors and all medical staff to treat Elders with respect and care, as present attitude at many places is ``you have already lived long and no useful purpose will be served by investigations and treatment.`` Some (considerable number)    doctors and staff misbehave also. In addition to instructions to all Stake Holders, there is necessity of Mass Media Programme to increase awareness of public as well as doctors, staff, care givers etc on various aspects of health problems of Elders. They deserve respect, care and sympathy. A Charter for Senior Citizens for all their Health Care Needs is necessary. Health Ministry should advise private hospitals, private practitioners and consultants also about necessity of looking after Elders on similar lines. Improper treatment of Elders by Government, Municipal and Private Sector is an ABUSE of ELDERS.

With number of Senior Citizens increasing and facing various ailments due to ageing and not being able to get proper medical aids due to less or no income at this age, it is necessary that Ministry of Health initiates fast measures to rationalize cost structure of medical requirements of elders including cost of medicines. As per recent reports, a study by the Cost Audit branch of the MCA found that drugs like Calpol manufactured by Glaxosmithkline, Corex Cough Syrup by Pfizer, Revital by Ranbaxy Global, Omez by Dr Reddy's Labs, Azithral by Alembic and several others were being sold at a mark up of up to 1,123% over the cost of production.
Worried over the findings of the study, India's Corporate Affairs Minister M Veerappa Moily has written to you seeking appropriate action on curbing this practice of pharma companies. He has forwarded a copy of the study to you. As we consider you as our Minister for all our Health Needs, we request you to take some immediate steps to remove such abnormal costing of medicines. Such high profit earning is nothing but ABUSE of ELDERS. We would also request you to use your good offices with manufacturing & distributing agencies all over India to give sufficiently high concessions like 50% (as in fare by transport, air, railways etc) to all Senior Citizens, as they need every month lot of medicines for age related chronic ailments at this age, when their income is very less or no income.

We shall be thankful, if immediate action on these three abuses is taken and action taken with copies of instructions issued for separate ques at every stage of taking treatment advised at an early date. A line in reply to this representation in terms of para 66 of Office Manual will be very much appreciated.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

(M.V.Ruparelia)