New Delhi, October 8-The Delhi government has constituted boards in Seven state-run hospitals across the capital will now provide assistance to Persons with Disabilities (PWD), with “high support” needs according to the new decision by the Delhi government. The decision was taken by the board constituted in these hospitals will be headed by the medical superintendent of the hospitals, members from the district social welfare department and a few specialists.
In its recently issued notifications, Law Ministry, said “high support”, which stands intensive support— physical, psychological and/or otherwise— which may be required by a person with a benchmark disability for daily activities, in order to take independent and informed decisions to access facilities and participating in all areas of life including education, employment, family, community life, treatment and therapy.
The seven Delhi government hospitals chosen for the new task are are Guru Teg Bahadur, Govind Ballabh Pant, Lok Nayak, Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Janakpuri Super Speciality Hospital and Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS).
On the occasion, Dr. Sunil Kumar, Medical Director, GTB Hospital was quoted by The Indian Express as saying, “The idea is to make the hospitals disabled-friendly by creating infrastructure like ramps, toilet railings and special lifts. Though we have created ramps and lifts in our hospital, the government is also focussed on creating a Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR).” There will be five rehabilitation specialists, and one specialist each from ENT, orthopaedic, ophthalmology, and pediatric department.
Several problems faced by disabled persons due to non-issuance of disability certificates were discussed by social welfare and health department officials in a meeting held last month wherein the officials also pointed out that persons with disabilities face many issues while applying for the disability certificate and UDID cards. In order to keep checks and balances of the issuance of disability certificates and UDID cards, a committee was also constituted with social welfare director as chairperson and doctors as members.
The government statement said, “In respect of non-availability of specialist doctors in designated hospitals, it was decided that hospitals may refer the patient to a private healthcare setup… On receiving the required reports from the private healthcare facility, the certificate would be issued by the government hospitals. They would bear the expenses at the private hospitals through the Delhi Arogya Kosh.
