Every doctor should dedicate two hours for the care of poor and elderly every day, Governor H R Bhardwaj said.
At the second Indo-British Geriatrics Council conference organised to promote healthy ageing in a changing world on Monday, he said: “There is a need for insurance cover for elderly and I have discussed this issue with the Prime Minister.”
“Health care facilities have to improve. But unfortunately medical profession has become a business. Our health care (system), managed by government, is not good and it affects the poor and farmers who are the backbone of the country. Our mental health policy is badly managed and it also requires a makeover,” he observed.
“We have given permission to British Royal Society for Public Health to share ideas on education, social and health care services. In Britain, the health care for elderly is good. They have elderly care centres, free treatment and also insurance cover. These can be implemented here,” he said.
Union Minister Rajeev Shukla said: “A 40-year-old farmer in rural area may look much older and have ailments, while in cities, older people also look younger as people have access to better health care facilities.”
British Deputy High Commissioner Ian Felton and Dr Anoop Amarnath, Director, and Consultant, Apollo Hospital, took part in the programme.
On the sidelines of the programmes, Bhardwaj told reporters: “I have forwarded the BJP’s letter about demanding Minister Santosh Lad’s resignation (over illegal mining case) to the Chief Minister. I did the same during the tenure of B S Yeddiyurappa when Reddy brothers were facing similar allegations.”