State Govt to Bear Medical Expenses of Senior Citizens: HC

“The senior citizens in case of emergency shall be taken to the nearest hospital for treatment. The cost of conveyance shall be borne by the State Government including the medical expenditure as well as of ambulance,”-- The Honourable High Court.

Uttarakhand: Providing necessary assistance to the senior citizens across the state, the Nanital bench of the high court of Uttarakhand, has recently directed the state government to bear the medical expenses of all the senior citizens in any case of emergency and establish a sufficient number of old age homes as well.

The honourable high court passed the order while dealing with the petition which was filed for protecting the rights of the senior citizen as per the provisions of the Maintenance and Welfare of the Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

Directing the state, the court ordered the government to provide the sufficient number of beds and free treatment including a blood test, CT scan, MRI and other tests for senior citizens in each government hospital or hospitals funded by the state government.

“The senior citizens in case of emergency shall be taken to the nearest hospital for treatment. The cost of conveyance shall be borne by the State Government including the medical expenditure as well as the ambulance,” the honourable court held.

In addition, the court has directed the state to establish old age home in each district within a period of six months and provide all the facilities as per the specific rules such as separate accommodation for men and women including sufficient potable water, electric fans, coolers/ AC, separate kitchen, dining room, separate bathroom for disabled senior citizens.

These facilities also include balanced nutritious food, two sets of clothes for summer and winters, linen, sufficient number of sweepers for maintaining hygiene and cleanliness in old age homes.