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Mr Alex Segbefia, the Minister of Health, has said the scope of coverage of the aged population would be expanded to ensure effective service delivery in the health sector.

Speaking at a meeting with a delegation of aged persons, Mr Segbefia said in order to prioritize the needs of the aged and for efficient service delivery; they must all have the requisite health identification cards to expedite action on their concerns.

He said the specialization of nurses in geriatrics would also help train the right calibre of people who would provide a humanitarian and compassionate approach to the health needs of the aged.

At first people exercised, ate more fruits and were very particular about their health needs but this has declined hence the rise in non-communicable diseases like kidney failure and diabetes, he said.

Mr Segbefia said the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection would continue to do more to meet the needs of older persons and make lives better.

Madam Ethel Boakye, Administration and Media Coordinator of HelpAge- Ghana, said the national health data should be made to include those over 60 to monitor and appropriately respond to the health needs of older people.

She said geriatrics should be mainstreamed into the syllabi of health training institutions to prepare health workers to appreciate the health needs of the aged.

Madam Boakye said the drugs needed by older persons for their health concerns should be covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme to make the healthcare needs of the aged more relevant.

More so, she added, the National Scale-up Plan on Ageing and Health in Ghana developed in August 2013, should be incorporated into the National Healthcare Strategic Plan.