Mumbai to get India’s first geriatrics hospital at Mazgaon

The Aga Khan Health Services plans to construct a 160-bed hospital in the first phase and later expand it to 250 beds

MUMBAI: Mumbai is set to get the country’s first geriatric care hospital, a facility to be developed by Aga Khan Health Services India at Mazgaon. Prince Aga Khan V, who has bought a one-acre plot to house the facility, discussed the plan with the chief minister on Monday but the formalities are yet to be finalised.

Prince Aga Khan V, who has bought a one-acre plot to house the facility, discussed the plan with the chief minister on Monday but the formalities are yet to be finalised.

“Our community has purchased a plot at Mazgaon. It currently has Phillips quarters, which will be demolished to construct a geriatrics hospital,” said Amin Manekia, chairperson of Aga Khan Health Services.

“The number of senior citizens in India is growing, and around 70% of geriatric patients have chronic health conditions. Most hospitals are not ideally suited to elderly patients, who may experience acute episodes and often require longer recovery periods,” said Manekia. “We will also have a separate unit for post-operative recovery.”

He said elderly patients often require significantly more time to recover than younger patients. “These days, hospitals may discharge knee-replacement patients within two days, but recovery for elderly patients can take considerably longer,’’ he said. “We will establish systems to provide continued care for geriatric patients at home after discharge.”

Manekia said there are a limited number of doctors in India specialising in geriatric medicine. “By 2050, one in every five people in India is expected to be a senior citizen. With the increasing cost of raising children and changing social patterns, including more people choosing not to marry, the elderly population is growing rapidly. Advances in healthcare and the availability of better-quality medication are also enabling people to live longer,” said Manekia.

The Aga Khan Health Services plans to construct a 160-bed hospital in the first phase and later expand it to 250 beds. The financial details of the project are yet to be worked out and Aga Khan Health Services will soon start applying for building construction permissions.

Avinash Supe, director of Hinduja Hospital and former dean of the civic-run KEM Hospital, said, ``We have a concept of geriatric clinics, but no dedicated geriatric hospital in India. Geriatric patients require special care. Such a hospital is the need of the hour.’’

Shailesh Mishra, founder president of non-profit Silver Innings, which works with senior citizens, said, “JJ Hospital has only a ward for geriatric patients. We need a full-fledged geriatrics hospital. Such a facility must also support mental health issues faced by older patients such as depression and anxiety.’’