*K.P.M. Basheer* *17 Jan 2012*
*KOCHI* : The Indian Psychiatric Society has urged the State government to divest the Mental Health Authority of its powers to issue licences to mental health care centres and entrust the task to the Director of Health Services. The society's State unit functionaries recently met Health Minister Adoor Prakash and Health Secretary Rajiv Sadanandan and asked them to improve the “state of affairs in the mental health scenario in Kerala.” A memorandum containing the IPS's suggestions was also submitted. This was against the backdrop of the government authorities rescuing 41 persons with mental illness from an unauthorised rehabilitation centre at Avanoor in Thrissur district recently. Another reason was the long delay in issuing licences to mental health care facilities by the Kerala State Mental Health Authority (KSMHA). The IPS leaders pointed out that in many other States the responsibility of issuing licence rested not with their respective State mental health authorities, but with government agencies. For instance, they pointed out to the Minister, in Tamil Nadu it was the Director of Health Services who was charged with the task. This could be followed in Kerala too. Dr. Verghese Punnoose, honorary general secretary of the Kerala branch of the IPS, told *The Hindu* that they had suggested to the government that KSMHA could function as a regulatory authority by monitoring the functioning of the licensed centres. Designated psychiatrists in the government health services could be made assistant licensing officers so that they could carry out the licensing procedure at the district level. He said that current system of licensing by KSMHA was inefficient as it was ill-equipped for the task. KSMHA met only once or twice a year. Moreover, KSMHA was not a government agency. Licensing of mental health care institutions should be done by a government agency with executive powers and the necessary machinery. *Unauthorised centres* In the memorandum, the IPS also urged the government to support authorised mental health rehabilitation centres run in a ‘scientific and humane manner' by NGOs and to close down all unauthorised centres. They pointed out that there was an acute shortage of mental health rehabilitation facilities as well as mental health professionals in Kerala. “It is the lack of adequate rehabilitation facilities which forces family members to dump these unfortunate citizens on centres where they do not receive proper care or where their basic human rights are violated.” It appreciated the efforts by philanthropic non-professionals running rehabilitation centres. “They should not be harassed in the name of impractical rules and licensing.” At the same time, the IPS noted, there were unauthorised centres run by persons with dubious interests where patients were ill-treated. Such centres should be closed and stern action taken against those running them. *In MBBS curriculum* The IPS also urged the government to open at least one mental health rehabilitation centre in each district. They wanted psychiatry to be made part of the MBBS curriculum. “Lack of early identification and treatment of mental illness is the main reason for these illnesses becoming chronic and resulting in permanent disability. The practical solution is making psychiatry a compulsory subject with examination in the MBBS course. This will enable all doctors to identify, treat, or refer mental illnesses for appropriate treatment. This single measure will drastically improve mental health care in the long run.” Dr. Verghese said the Minister had agreed to call a meeting of all concerned next month to discuss the issues raised by the IPS. ------------------------------ *‘Let Director of Health Services be licensing authority'* *In other States, government agencies issue licence* ------------------------------ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2807165.ece -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
