All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), along with Healthy Aging India and Rotary Club International on Monday, launched ‘360 Degree Doctors at Doorstep Programme’ comprising two mobile geriatric healthcare vans for 21 Old Age Homes and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) of Delhi and NCR. The flagging off of the van was done by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. October 1 marks International Day for Older Persons.

Dr Prasun Chatterjee, founder of Healthy Aging India and Assistant Professor, Geriatric Department AIIMS told The Pioneer, “A total of two geriatric vans will be there as part of our programme. One van has been launched today and we are expecting to engage another van by next month. We will call them Geriatric Mobile Vans.”

According to the doctor, the Geriatric Mobile is equipped with latest technologies. “So, we will provide doorstep healthcare which will include active screening of non-communicable diseases, management and rehabilitation for age related diseases,” said Dr Chatterjee.

Apart from the screening of elderly people, the programme will focus on providing counseling and emotional support to the residents of old age homes.

“Senior citizen peer group will go and counsel old people. Also, school children & college students will visit them which will complement initiatives to restore harmony between generations,” he said.

The old citizens screened with severe illness will be admitted to AIIMS geriatric department under the programme, he added. 

“As of now, we have only one van, so the van will be visiting old age homes and RWAs once in a month. When we will get another van, the trips will be made twice a month,” said Dr Chatterjee.

Highlighting the role of AIIMS in the programme he said that doctors and nurses will be trained by the geriatric department of AIIMS for sensitisation. 

“Rotary club is bearing the expenses. It has already given us funds for 6 months and the vans have also been given by them. AIIMS will train the doctors and will help in rehabilitation by admitting them,” Chatterjee said.

The total cost of the programme as of now is Rs 36 lakh so far with an additional cost of Rs 1.75 lakh per month, he said.