Eye care card for senior citizens

New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) Recognising that eye care is animportant component of older persons'' health plan, a privatehealthcare organisation has decided to provide a ''privilegesewa card'' that offers multiple benefits for undergoing eyetreatment to senior citizens.

The list of benefits for those who will avail this cardincludes preferential attendance in OPD with priorappointment, first visit to be made complimentary, 50 per centoff on second follow-up, one complimentary free eye check-upannually for family, free pre-operative medicine for surgerypatient, free ECG and sugar test for surgery patient and 10per cent off on surgical procedures.

This facility, which is being provided by Sharp Sightcentres of Medfort Hospitals, will be launched by ChiefMinister Sheila Dikshit tomorrow..

"The decision to provide this facility came after we cameacross senior citizens who could not avail eye treatment dueto many simple reasons. Either they were living alone or theywere not aware of the latest technologies or they weresuffering from some other ailment that did not allow them toavail eye care treatment at a hospital," Dr Samir Sud,Director, Sharp Sight centre, said.

However, he added, "Discount for surgery is not valid forcashless mediclaim patients."

To get access to such senior citizens, the hospital hascollaborated with Confederation of Senior Citizens Associationof Delhi. "This card is being provided in a phased mannerbecause we have limited resources and we wish to give qualitytreatment," he said.