PESHAWAR, Oct 17 (APP):In a significant move towards protecting the healthcare rights of older people, Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), one of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's largest public hospitals, has been declared senior citizen-friendly with the inauguration of a dedicated facilitation desk. Established in collaboration with Blue Veins and the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), the initiative aims to improve access to hospital services and advance implementation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior …
Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar declared senior citizen-friendly
PESHAWAR, Oct 17 (APP):In a significant move towards protecting the healthcare rights of older people, Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), one of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s largest public hospitals, has been declared senior citizen-friendly with the inauguration of a dedicated facilitation desk.
Established in collaboration with Blue Veins and the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), the initiative aims to improve access to hospital services and advance implementation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Citizens Act, 2014.
Muhammad Tariq Burki, Director and head of LRH-MTI, inaugurated the desk in the presence of representatives of NCHR, Blue Veins, the Senior Citizens’ Forum and hospital officials. LRH, one of the province’s major tertiary care teaching hospitals, serves approximately 4,500 patients daily through more than 26 specialised clinics.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Burki said the hospital was committed to ensuring dignified and accessible healthcare for older patients.”The facilitation desk will help senior citizens navigate hospital services and receive the assistance they need. We will continue improving our facilities to make LRH more responsive to their needs,” he said.
NCHR Provincial Coordinator, Rizwan Ullah Khan welcomed the initiative, saying access to healthcare without discrimination was a fundamental human rights concern. He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to protecting the rights of older people and addressing barriers to essential services.
Naseem Riaz, a member of the Senior Citizens’ Forum facilitated by Blue Veins, appreciated the hospital management for responding to concerns raised by older people.
“What was merely a demand a month ago has now become a reality. Blue Veins has helped bridge the gap between senior citizens and decision-makers, enabling our collective concerns to translate into practical action,” she said.
Qamar Naseem, Programme Manager at Blue Veins, welcomed the initiative and called for similar arrangements at all public hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Citizens Act, 2014, senior citizens are entitled to special healthcare facilities, including separate hospital counters, concessions in medical and medicine charges, and separate medical wards. All public hospitals should establish dedicated senior citizens’ facilitation desks and ensure effective implementation of these statutory entitlements,” he said.
He urged the provincial health authorities and other Medical Teaching Institutions to follow LRH’s example, stressing that senior citizen-friendly healthcare should become a standard practice across the province rather than an isolated initiative.
