Kathmandu- Kathmandu Metropolitan City has signed agreements with Chhetrapati Free Hospital and Dallu Community Health Council to provide free healthcare services to senior citizens.
The agreements were signed on the occasion of International Day of Older Persons, in the presence of Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol and Chief Administrative Officer Muktiram Aryal. On behalf of the parties, Social Development Department Chief Samiksha Niraula, hospital chairman Dr. Manojman Shrestha, and council vice-chairman Prakash Kumar Shrestha signed the agreements.
Speaking after the signing, Acting Mayor Dangol said the effectiveness of the programme would be measured by whether more senior citizens, particularly those who rarely leave their homes due to health conditions, are able to access healthcare services.
She said senior citizens who already visit hospitals should receive services in a simpler and more accessible manner, while efforts should also focus on bringing those who remain at home without treatment to health facilities. She asked the concerned institutions to maintain records of beneficiaries, including age, gender, physical condition and services received, and submit monthly reports.
Dangol said the metropolitan city has been implementing various programmes to improve the health and well-being of senior citizens. Under its door-to-door healthcare programme, health check-ups have been provided to 2,075 senior citizens at their homes. Similarly, 14,543 health check-ups have been conducted through Chhetrapati Free Hospital and 1,215 people have received free check-ups through Dallu Community Health Council.
The city has also provided pneumonia vaccinations to 3,300 senior citizens and facilitated pilgrimages for more than 10,000 senior citizens through its wards.
Regarding senior-friendly infrastructure and social support, Dangol said the city currently operates 10 senior citizen-friendly parks. It provides an annual nutrition allowance of Rs. 12,000 per person to 12,383 senior citizens and has provided free legal services to 5,397 senior citizens.
Other programmes include the Silver Volunteer initiative for assisting and rescuing vulnerable people from the streets, as well as wheelchair facilities to improve senior citizens’ access to heritage sites.
Executive Committee member Mahesh Nepali said the metropolitan city has been prioritizing social transformation as part of its development efforts and stressed the need to maintain quality in infrastructure and services for senior citizens.
Hospital Chairman Dr. Shrestha said many senior citizens living in inner-city areas are reluctant to visit health institutions for treatment. He said the hospital would encourage them to undergo regular health check-ups and was ready to use its capacity to provide specialist healthcare through health promotion centres.
Council Vice-Chairman Prakash Kumar Shrestha said the council can now conduct around 70 percent of laboratory tests internally, which previously had to be sent outside. He said the council would remain committed to providing accessible healthcare services as expected by the metropolitan city.
Senior citizens receiving social security allowances from Kathmandu Metropolitan City will be eligible for the services under the agreement. According to Social Development Department Chief Niraula, elected representatives and employees of the metropolitan city will also be eligible.
The hospitals covered by the agreement will also be required to provide weekly health check-ups to people rescued from the streets and placed in care homes. If hospitalization is required, they must provide free treatment.
According to Social Development Division Chief Jankari Singh, the services will also be available to people outside Kathmandu Metropolitan City who are victims of gender-based violence or are unclaimed and are referred by the Social Development Department.
