MEDICAL UNIT
VISION: All elderly must be in good health, enjoy an optimum quality of life and be independent.
(1) ELDER-CARE DEPARTMENT
Mission:
· The Medical Unit provides medical and paramedical services to Elderly and Disabled children. The Medical Unit has a pool of 282 Medical Officers, 63 Nursing Officers, 9 Physiotherapists and 9 Occupational Therapists.
· Provide medical, paramedical Services and health education to all Elderly
· Provide preventive, promotive , curative and rehabilitative services to elderly people and disabled
Activities:
(i) Visit to Infirmaries
Medical Officers, Nursing Officers, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists provide weekly visit to Charitable Institutions where medical and paramedical services are provided.
(ii) Domiciliary Visit to persons over 90 years
Medical Officers of this Ministry pay monthly visits to persons aged 90 and above to assess their state of health and Medical Officers prescribe medicines where necessary.
(iii) Domiciliary Visits to bedridden persons 0 - 89 years
Domiciliary Visits are performed by doctors on a monthly basis for bedridden persons who are 0 - 89 years including children who are bedridden and severely handicapped. Drugs are made available at the local health centers or the regional hospital.
(iv) Health Clubs in the Elderly Day Care Centres
The setting up of Health Clubs in the community through the network of Elderly Day Care Centres . There are 24 Health Clubs all over the Island.
(v) 'Service de Proximité
Elderly above 90 yrs who are bedridden or severely disabled in receipt of carers allowance permanently receive the services of Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists on the recommendation of the Medical Officer.
(vi) Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Health talks are carried out by Nursing Officer twice monthly where Elderly of the Community attends. Each month an activity concerning a specific health problem is being tackled. Resource persons such as doctors, nurses and health educators provide their services. The topics addressed are Diabetes, Hypertension, cardio vascular disease, Mental problems, falls in the elderly and the most important topic being palliative care for people in their end of life. Elderly are screened for diabetic mellitus and hypertension. Diabetic patients benefit from foot care demonstrations and foot hygiene in order to prevent leg amputations.
(vii) Vaccination for the Elderly
Anti-influenza vaccines are provided to the Elder persons above 60 years and to disabled children in order to prevent complications due to influenza and to improve the quality of life of the elderly.
(viii) Recreation Centers
There are 3 Recreation Centers namely at Belle Mare, Pointe aux Sables and Pointe aux Piments.
The Medical Unit provides services of Nursing Officer on a 24-hour basis for residents who suffer from minor ailments.
(2) MEDICAL BOARD DEPARTMENT
The Medical Unit also prepares and schedule Medical Board sessions:
(i) Basic Invalidity Pension (BIP) for claimants applying for Basic Invalidity Pensions for persons aged below 60 years; a Carers' Allowance for claimants benefiting Basic Invalidity Pension but who are so disabled so as to need the constant care of another person for their life sustaining activities.
(ii) Basic Retirement Pension/Severely Handicapped (BRP/SH)
Prepare and schedule Medical Board for persons aged 60 years and above benefiting from Basic Retirement Pension and who need constant personal attendance of another person for their daily activities.
(iii) Domiciliary Visits (DV) Medical Examination
Claimants suffering from any disablement and who are bedridden can apply for a pension either BIP + Carers' Allowance or BRP/SH thro' their proxy. A domiciliary visit is scheduled for them and a general practitioner visits and examines these persons at their place of residence in order to assess their disablement and make recommendation for pension purposes.
(iv) Social Aid (SA)
Schedule general practitioners to service medical sessions in view of examining claimants applying for Social Aid. Social Aid sessions are held in Social Security Offices, Area Health Centers and Hospitals.
(v) Injury Boards (IB)
Medical Injury Boards Sessions are scheduled to examine persons contributing to the National Pensions Scheme who are injured at work or suffering from any prescribed occupational diseases, as mentioned in the National Pensions Act, with a view to determine the percentage of loss or permanent incapacity.
(vi) Yellow Parking Coupon and Duty Free Concession for Adapted Car
A Medical Board is carried out to asess eligibility of applicants to benefit from Duty Free Consession on adapted car and Parking Coupon.
(3) MEDICAL TRIBUNAL
The Medical Tribunal hears appeal from claimants who are not satisfied with decision of the Medical Board regarding their claim for pension as follows:
1 Basic Invalidity Pension below 60 years
2 An additional Basic Invalid's Pension (or Carer's Allowance for severe disablement)
3 An increase in Basic Retirement Pension (aged 60 and over)
4 Disablement Pension (aged 15 and over) following injury at work (Section 26 of National Pension Act)
The Medical Tribunal consists of a Chairman, appointed by the Attorney-General and two specialists, hears appeal from claimants who are not satisfied with the decision of the Medical Board regarding their claim for pension as follows:
(a) Basic Invalidity Pension below 60 years
(b) An Additional Basic Invalid's Pension (or Carer's Allowance for Severe disablement)
(c) An increase in Basic Retirement Pension (aged 60 and over)
(d) Disablement Pension (aged 15 and over) following injury at work (Section 26 of National Pension Act)
The appeal should be lodged normally within one month from the date the claim has been disallowed by the National Pensions Officer.
When convened before the Medical Tribunal, appellants are requested to bring medical certificates, prescriptions and related documents to support their case. They may be accompanied by their treating doctor.
If an appeal is allowed, the appellant is informed in writing accordingly and payment of the benefit(s) is effected by the Benefits Branch or Industrial Injury Branch, as applicable.
OTHER ISSUES
If an appeal is rejected, the appellant is informed in writing and the person may make a fresh claim after six months from the date of 'Disallowance Notice' at the nearest Social Security Office (with all relevant documents).
(1) Basic Invalidity Pension
(2) An Additional Basic Invalid's Pension (or Carer's Allowance for Severe Disablement)
(3) An increase in Basic Retirement Pension
Six months after the last claim is disallowed. In case the claimant cannot call at the local Social Security Office personally, he may send his representative (proxy).
(4) NATIONAL PENSIONS APPEAL TRIBUNAL
An Appeal Tribunal has also been set up under section 36 of the National Pensions Act.
The Appeal Tribunal consists of a Chairman appointed by the Attorney General and two other members appointed by the Minister after consultation with representatives of employers and employees. It hears appeals from persons who are not satisfied with a decision of National Pensions Officer (other than a Medical Question).
When appellants are convened before the Appeal Tribunal, they are requested to provide documentary evidence as follows:-
(a) Basic Retirement Pension
(i) Passport and any travelling document
(ii) To produce proof of residence conditions
(iii) To have resided in the country for a period of twelve years after their eighteenth birthday
(b) Basic Widows Pension
Produce marriage certificate or a certificate from the priest who celebrated the marriage ceremony.
(c) Lump Sum
(i) Produce documentary evidence that appellant has contributed to S.I.P.F. or N.P.F
(ii) Produce evidence that they were recommended to retire from employment on medical grounds as supported by a medical certificate and that they submitted the said certificate to the employer before proceeding on retirement.
(d) Industrial Injuries Benefits
(i) To give proof that the injury sustained occurred at site of work was reported to the employer who accepted the version of the appellant.
(ii) National Pensions Officer is satisfied with the notification from employer that Industrial injury sustained by appellant arose in the course of employment on site of work.
