Senior citizens in HCM City’s District 8 receive health check-ups on August 15. VNS Photo Thu Hằng

HCM CITY — Phan Thị Kim Loan, 77, finds it extremely convenient and economical to get herself checked for free at a health station next to her house in HCM City’s District 8.

She visited the Ward 9 health station on August 15 for a check-up package that included examination, abdominal ultrasound test and blood tests.

“I have not got a health check-up for years as it takes hours of waiting at a public hospital,” she said.

“It is so good to get healthcare services free of charge without having to go too far.”

Phạm Thị Giá, 72, who also lives in Ward 9, was grateful to health authorities for caring for elderly people and giving them a free medical examination.

Since she has recovered from a mild stroke, general health checks are vital for her.

“It is the first time I got a free check-up package at the health station, which is just a few minutes’ walk from my house,” she said.

They are among hundreds of people aged 60 and above in Ward 9 to receive free health checks under a pilot programme launched by the city Department of Health earlier this month.

The programme is being implemented in 49 wards and communes across the city in August.

With lessons learnt from it, the Department of Health and district health centres will develop a detailed action plan for a larger annual programme set to begin next year.

The pilot was aimed at early detection of non-communicable diseases and effective management of chronic diseases among seniors.

The annual programme, expected to cost VNĐ150 billion (US$6.25 million) the first year, will offer free health checks to a total of 1.033 million people aged 60 and above.

The most common ailments the elderly have include high blood pressure, diabetes, mental disorders, old age weakness, and cancer, Dr Trần Đình Trung, head of the Ward 9 health station, said.

“This [demographic] needs regular health checks as they usually suffer from old age-related and chronic diseases.

“The annual programme helps grassroots healthcare personnel manage the health status of elderly residents with electronic records.”.

Around 4,000 older people live in the ward, he added.

Nguyễn Trung Hòa, director of the Gò Vấp District Health Centre, said more than 67,000 elderly people live in the district, where authorities plan to provide free checks to 6,000-8,000 of them this year.

Assoc Prof Lê Đình Thanh, director of Thống Nhất Hospital, said the number of seniors in the city continues to grow, and each suffers two or three chronic diseases on average.

They could be a burden to their family and society without comprehensive care and if their chronic diseases are left untreated, he added. — VNS

Doctors at the Ward 9 health station examine elderly patients on August 15. VNS Photo Thu Hằng