Varanasi's new 200-bed geriatric hub to transform elderly care in North India

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the under-construction National Centre for Aging in Varanasi on 13 June 2023. The 200-bed facility is being built at Banaras Hindu University’s Institute of Medical Sciences campus. It will serve as a major geriatric healthcare hub for North India and the third of its kind in the country. The centre is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore. It will offer modern healthcare services to elderly patients from Purvanchal and across North India once complete. Facilities will include modular operation theatres, advanced radiology, diagnostics, rehabilitation, a day-care centre, an ICU, and private wards.

Specialised care will be provided through a multi-specialty geriatric outpatient department. This will include dedicated clinics for age-related conditions such as a Memory Clinic and an Arthritis Clinic. The centre will also train doctors and nurses in geriatric medicine to ensure high-quality care for senior citizens.

Research on age-related diseases will form a key part of its work. Treatment protocols and medical guidelines tailored to elderly patients will be developed here. During his inspection, the chief minister instructed officials to finish the project on time while maintaining strict quality standards. The National Centre for Aging will significantly expand access to specialist healthcare for the elderly in the region. It will also advance medical research and training in geriatric care. The facility is expected to become a leading institution for aging-related healthcare in North India.