A 2012 United Nations report predicts that India will have 198 million people aged 60 and above in two-three years. To look after these senior citizens we require specialised doctors. Geriatrics is a sub-specialty of internal medicine, deals with physical, psychological and social care aspects of the elderly. This subject is still in its infancy in India — only government colleges and a few private colleges offer an MD in geriatrics.
What is geriatrics
Age-related illnesses afflict the elderly. With a fast-changing lifestyle, shift in food habits and surroundings, they are prone to undergo various levels of psychological changes. Says Dr Prasun Chatterjee, senior demonstrator, All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi, “A person needs to have complete knowledge in healthcare to treat the aged. The approach is patient-centric, as these patients tend to have multiple problems.”
Scope
There is a huge demand for geriatric practitioners, as there is an increase in the 80-plus population in India. The future prospects are immense, promises Dr Chatterjee. One can either practise or join colleges/universities as a faculty. “The Central government has come up with a National Programme for the Healthcare of Elderly, which aims to provide a geriatric care centre in eight regional government institutes and also introduce an MD course in geriatrics,” says Dr Chatterjee.
Where can you study
Madras Medical College (MMC), AIIMS, Christian Medical College, Vellore, and Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, offer a postgraduate degree in this subject. MMC has an MD in geriatric care (a three-year programme with three seats). Prof B Krishnaswamy, HoD, geriatric care, MMC, explains, “The course provides a comprehensive training in managing elderly patients with multi-system disease. Students are also posted to an internal medicine unit for six months and trained in various specialties.” A postgraduate diploma in geriatric medicine is also available at Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. World Health Organisation also offers a three-month fellowship at AIIMS and MMC in geriatrics.
Scene abroad
Though the field is in its infancy in India, opportunities are plenty abroad, especially in the United Kingdom. University of Salford, UK, King’s College London, Cardiff University, and University of Edinburgh offer courses in geriatrics in the UK. “Australia and New Zealand also have specialty training programmes in geriatrics. The scope for development in this discipline is vast in other countries than in India,” says Dr Chatterjee. Many universities in USA offer a two to three year training programme in geriatric clinical epidemiology and ageing-related research, sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, a unit of USA’s Department of Health and Human Services ■
— kaviya@newindianexpress.com
