The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare had launched the “National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly” (NPHCE) during 2010-11 to address various health related problems of elderly people.

The major objectives of the NPHCE are establishment of Department of Geriatrics in identified Medical Institutions as Regional Geriatric Centres for different regions of the country and to provide dedicated health facilities in District Hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Sub-Centres (SCs) levels through State Health Society. The salient features of the programme are as follows:

i)     Setting up of Geriatric department in identified Regional Geriatric Centres (RGC) with OPD care services and 30 bedded Geriatric ward for providing indoor services.

ii)   Setting up of 10 bedded Geriatric units at District Hospitals that will provide specialist services.

iii) Establishment of Rehabilitation unit at all Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Geriatric clinic twice/week.

iv) Setting up weekly Geriatric clinic by trained medical Officer at Primary Health Centres (PHCs).

v)   IEC on healthy life style, home care to the bed ridden and supportive devices for the needy elderly persons at sub-centre level.

The programme is being implemented under Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) flexible pool within the overarching umbrella of National Health Mission for Districts and below in the States.

Details of funds allocated under programme during 2013-14 to 2015-16 and the current year are given below:

       I.            National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS)- The programme is being implemented under National Health Mission (NHM) for intervention upto the district level includes awareness generation for Cancer prevention, screenining, early detection and referral to an appropriate level institution for treatment.

    II.            National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) This programme was launched in the year 1976 as a centrally sponsored scheme with the goal of reducing the prevalence of blindness to 0.3% by 2020.  Rapid Survey on Avoidable Blindness conducted under NPCB during 2006-07 showed reduction in the prevalence of blindness from 1.1% (2001-02) to 1% (2006-07.  Under this programme there are provision for distribution of free spectacles to old persons suffering from presbyopia and free treatment for cataract surgery.

 III.            National Oral Health Programme: Taking into account the oral health situation in the country, Government of India has initiated a National Oral Health Programme to provide integrated, comprehensive oral health care in the existing health care facilities with a view to improve the determinants of oral health, reduce morbidity from oral diseases, integrate oral health promotion and provide preventive services.

 IV.            National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD): This Ministry has launched this programme on the pilot phase basis in the year 2006-07(January 2007).  Under this programme, hearing-aid are provided as per synergy between Assistance to Disabled Persons (ADIP) Scheme of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MSJE) and National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD) of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. At present, the Programme is being implemented in 281 districts of 27 States and 6 Union Territories. 

At present, Government had launched following programmes/schemes i.e. under which, inter alia, health care facilities are being provided including the  elderly people also, in the country:-

National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE)- Releases during last three years and the current year (Amount Rs. in crores)

The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.

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MV/JC