The Social Welfare Ministry is urging the Health Ministry to look into the plight of the elderly.

Permanent Secretary – Govind Sami says most of the people visiting hospitals on a daily basis are the elderly and special provisions should be made for them.

Sami says some senior citizens can’t wait all day to be seen by a doctor or nurse.

“What we are suggesting is that for healthy ageing you need to provide special clinics, maybe convert some rural schools which are not used, and use it to provide programs for the elderly.”

Sami says volunteers should also help the ageing population.