The state must take better care of elderly citizens

The world is experiencing an increase in the number of elderly people, and Bangladesh is no exception. According to the country's Population and Housing Census 2022, over 1.53 crore people now are over 60 years of age – or around 9.28 percent of the total population. In the 2011 census, this group constituted 7.48 percent of the population. Needless to say, the rise in their number is good news, as it means that our average life expectancy has increased. But we must not also underestimate the challenges that the country faces in providing this huge population with the care they need to live healthy and with dignity.

Currently, Bangladesh lacks a specialised healthcare system to support its growing number of elderly citizens. Since this group is not generally engaged in any income-generating activities, it is often difficult for them to get the healthcare they need. Many mid- and low-income families struggle to bear the high medical expenses of their elderly relatives in the absence of any proper healthcare policy by the state. Unfortunately, there are not many facilities in the country where the elderly can stay and get some sort of treatment. Currently, the country has only six old-age homes, under the social welfare ministry, and some shelter homes run by charities. While the government gives an allowance to senior citizens under its social protection schemes, the amount is very little compared to their needs, nor is it easily accessible to everyone.

While it must prioritise building supporting facilities for the senior citizens at the upazila level, special attention needs to be given to develop a healthcare policy under which they can get treatment for free, or at least on a priority basis.

Unless these issues are addressed with priority, our growing elderly population may face a grim future. According to the United Nations Population Fund, 3.6 crore people in Bangladesh will be aged 60 and above by 2050. This means that if we do not undertake proper policies and initiatives to care for our elderly right now, it will be more difficult for us to face the challenges in the future.

The government needs to immediately take some major policy decisions to cater to the needs of this population; it must also include the issue into its development strategy. While it must prioritise building supporting facilities for the senior citizens at the upazila level and in all major cities, special attention needs to be given to develop a healthcare policy under which they can get treatment for free, or at least on a priority basis. Equally importantly, we need to integrate our elderly population into various processes at social, community and administrative levels, in advisory roles preferably, so that they can meaningfully contribute to the development of our society even after retiring from active life.