Karnataka govt plans to start PG course in geriatric medicine

In response to a case filed in the high court, the state government on Monday said that a course in geriatric medicine would be starting from the next academic year in 10 medical colleges.

Geriatrics is a sub-specialty of internal medicine, with a focus on the healthcare of elderly people.

Writ petitions seeking the introduction of a post-graduate course in geriatrics had come up before the division bench comprising chief justice JS Khehar and justice AS Bopanna. The petitioners had also sought the provision of separate geriatric wards in all the government hospitals.

Senior officials of the state health department were present in the high court during the hearing of the case on Monday. After seeking instructions from them, the government advocate submitted, “Recently, the Medical Council of India had approved the post-graduate course in geriatrics. The state government will seek approval from the Medical Council to initiate the post-graduate course in geriatrics in 10 colleges in the state before the commencement of the academic year in July-August 2011. In case the proposal made by the state government is approved, the PC geriatrics course will begin in the next academic year.”

The state government also said that it has established geriatric wards in six district hospitals; each of the wards is equipped with 10 beds.

While work on the wards is already complete in five district hospitals, work on the ward in Madikeri is still under progress. In all remaining hospitals, work will be complete by March 31.