Thailand: Walking the talk on universal healthcare
Currently more than 10% of Thailand's population is over 65 years old. Women make up 55% share of the elderly aged. Thailand introduced its Universal Health Coverage scheme way back in 2002 to provide universal access to essential health care through a tax-based financing system and paying providers on a capitation basis. As a result, only 5% of the elderly went for paid care in 2011.
Long Term Care (LTC) solution for the elderly is part of Thailand's strategic plan and has been in place since 2008. It is community based elderly care and involves both-- family assistance and supporting systems of healthcare and social services. The national budget for LTC, to support the development of home based care systems, was increased to 900 million THB (USD 25 million) in 2016 from 600 million THB ((USD18 million) in 2015. A pilot project (January 2013-August 2017) on Long Term Care Service Development for the frail elderly and other vulnerable people (LTOP) has been introduced in 6 areas. A team of doctors including nurse and physiotherapist go and see all home bound and bed bound elderly. There is also a basic universal social pension for all elderly.
Singapore: Holistic way of caring for the elderly
Thelma Kay, former Chief of the Social Development Division, UNESCAP, and former Senior Advisor on Ageing Issues, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Singapore, said that Singapore has a holistic way of looking at the health needs of its senior citizens. There are many prevention and wellness programmes, as well disease specific screenings and follow ups, in the public health system. Healthcare is heavily subsidised. In 2014, the government introduced the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) to recognise and honour the contributions of Singapore's Pioneer Generation towards nation-building. The SGD 9 billion PGP package aims to cover around 450,000 Singaporeans, aged 65 years and above. It provides several healthcare benefits for all Pioneers for life, including subsidies and cash assistance.
Senior citizens have an identifier card to get priority access in healthcare facilities. There is also a transport subsidy for anyone over 60. The 'Ageing In Place' government policy is focused for the aged to age at home as far as possible and be independent. Some community hospitals and faith based organisations have home base care units.
India: Long walk to health justice for the elderly
The proportion of elderly population has increased from 5.6% in 1961 to 8.6% in 2011. In 2011, there were nearly 104 million persons aged 60 years or above in India - 53 million females and 51 million males. While there are good government schemes, there is poor implementation at ground level. A Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP) is being implemented since 1992 with the objective of improving the quality of life of senior citizens. But the number of beneficiaries remains small. In 2007, the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act was enacted to ensure need based maintenance for the parents and senior citizens. The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana and Health Pension schemes are also steps in the right direction. The National programme of healthcare for the elderly, though started, is currently being implemented only in 13 out of the 622 districts and the uptake is painfully slow.
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