By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Director of NEIGRIHMS Dr Santa Singh has come down heavily on the Meghalaya Pensioners’ Association (MPA) saying that the special counter for senior citizens has been operational in the hospital since the day of its inception.
Reacting to a news report appeared in a section of the press where the MPA had alleged the NEIGRIHMS and Health Services of Meghalaya failed to open special counters in their hospital and in PHCs/CHCs for senior citizens, Dr Singh said the question of making a promise in this regard as claimed by MPA president FB Lyngdoh does not arise since the counter has been operation since long back. The Director said he convened a meeting with the hospital administration in this regard on Monday.
Terming the MPA statement as ‘surprising’, the Director further said that the private ward of the hospital has also been expanded in this connection and the hospital has been giving preference to senior citizens in the OPDs.
Meanwhile, the Director, Health Services, Meghalaya said that the provision for separate counter is under process and so far the state government has targeted the district hospitals in the state.
“Since outdoor patients are less in PHCs so we have decided to introduce the same in the seven districts and their hospitals,” said the Director.
Regarding provisions for senior citizens in getting preference in OPDs, he said separate cells will be formed in all the district hospitals and for that infrastructure has to be put in place. “We are going to put up the proposal with the state government soon,” he said.
