Panjab Unprepared for Elderly Care, Chandigarh Does Better

Despite having one of the highest proportions of elderly population in India, a study found Panjab's public healthcare system to be moderately prepared for geriatric-friendly services. There are gaps in workforce availability, infrastructure, and financial support across different levels of care. These findings emerge from the first comprehensive evaluation of geriatric service readiness conducted across all tiers of Panjab's public health system. With 12.6% of its people aged 60 years and above, Panjab ranks fourth among states in elderly population, which is expected to increase further in coming years. The cross-sectional survey was conducted by researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda, in collaboration with Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi and the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly, Panjab. The study was published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care titled Assessment of the Public Health System Preparedness to Provide Geriatric-Friendly Healthcare Services in Punjab, India: A Cross-Sectional Study. The study said Panjab's healthcare system requires urgent and targeted interventions to meet the needs of its aging population. Panjab's public healthcare system demonstrates only a moderate level of preparedness in delivering geriatric-friendly services, with strengths noted in health management information systems and the availability of essential medical commodities. However, critical challenges remain in leadership, governance, and healthcare financing. District hospitals are comparatively better equipped, but peripheral facilities such as community health centers and primary health centers face acute shortages of funding, trained personnel, and infrastructural support needed for comprehensive geriatric care. Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Health Department has started an initiative to provide better healthcare services to the elderly residents who live alone and are bedridden. A team visits the elderly at their homes regularly and checks for various health issues. Launched on 19 Sep, the team received over 25 calls within the first fortnight. The service deploys a dedicated ambulance team comprising a doctor, nurse, and paramedic. Each day, the team attends to around five to six elderly patients, providing medical check-ups, counselling, basic treatment, and medicines if required. In case of a serious illness, patients are shifted to the Government Multi Specialty Hospital, Chandigarh.