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Bid to promote research on old-age ailments

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 26 - In what is seen as a much-needed initiative for senior citizens, research work on old-age ailments will soon begin under the newly-opened geriatric wing of the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

Started as part of a flagship programme of the Government of India, the GMCH is among the eight regional geriatric centres in the country, which now also aims to deal with diseases common to the elderly.

With the 30-bed geriatric wing already functioning since August this year, healthcare for the elderly will get specific medical attention, which till recently was kept in the back burner.

Dr Debo Goswami, head of the Medicine department of the GMCH, and also the head of the geriatric wing, said, �Healthcare for the elderly people is often neglected and does not feature in the priority chart. With the new set-up, we have segregated the section for the elderly where they will be given all sorts of medical facilities. Simultaneously, research work on elderly-specific diseases will also be invited.�

�We have received good response from the people and our endeveour will be to make things hassle-free for the patients. The GMCH is the fifth medical college to have this facility. Apart from the 30 beds, it will have six intensive care units,� Dr Goswami said.

Dr Goswami further said that there are diseases very common to the elderly population of the region and under the geriatric wing, specific medical facilities are being offered.

�We will now encourage research work on those issues. The research committee has already been formed,� he said, adding that diseases like coronary heart disease (cardio-myopathy) and urology are among the common ailments.

Dr Goswami added that postgraduate courses in geriatric medicine would also begin soon.

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