AFVOA Newsletters of Year 2012

Page 79 of 80 vividly brought out that planning and organization of Geriatric Services (not merely Geriatric Medicine Services) has ample scope in the private sector for those with the necessary entrepreneurship and strategy formulating skills to market such services. However, in my view, even the rich veterans depending on the ECHS, may not opt for the Classic, Gold and Platinum Plans offered by the SCIPL. The Presentation, however, brought into focus the problems faced by a minority of our veterans in need of "assisted living" care. Can the Veterans' Organizations convince the politicians and the Central Government about the necessity and scope for setting up Old Age Homes exclusively for Veterans in spite of the present "financial constraints"? We have to highlight the esteem and respect with which Veterans are held and treated in various other countries. Some of the old age homes established by the Veterans Administration Health Services of the US are "Pay for Services" homes with stringent admission criteria. Could we think of such a model for our veterans of various categories? The Veterans Organizations may request the Government of India to constitute an Expert Committee to study the health care problems of homeless and disabled veterans and recommend a comprehensive proposal for establishment of old age homes for such veterans as done by the governments of the US, UK and other European countries.The terms of reference for the Committee could include making of specific recommendations on the size, location, accommodation scales, staffing pattern, financial implications and so on. The Committee may also be asked to recommend a time bound implementation plan taking into account the density of the ex servicemen population in various regions and their felt and assessed health care needs. Maj Gen Bollini Sitharaman SUBSCRIPTIONS SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE FOR 2012-13 Statistics are as follows: Strength Unpaid Army Veterans 206 69 Navy Veterans 12 4 Air Force Veterans 40 8 Total Members 258 81 ( more than 30 percent !!) Members are requested to clear their subscription dues at the earliest. ++++++