*20 JAN 2012* *BANGALORE* : Vice-President Hamid Ansari today called for measures to remove the stigma and discrimination towards mentally ill patients while focussing on improving infrastructure and human resources towards ensuring mental health services.
"While we have made enormous strides in de-stigmatising patients of HIV/AIDS through public education and awareness campaigns, we have not been able to replicate the same regarding mental disorders. We must reduce the stigma and discrimination through public awareness," he said, delivering the keynote address at the sixth NIMHANS convocation here. Even in terms of mental health infrastructure, India has 25 pyschotic beds per million compared to the global average of 169, Ansari said. He rued that India's expenditure on health remained very low at 1.27 per cent of GDP, despite Rs 400 crore increase in allocation in the 11th plan. "India's expenditure on health is very low compared to international standards. Thought there has been a Rs 400 crore increase in allocation in the 11th plan, expenditure at 1.27 per cent of GDP is very low," he said. India should also focus on vulnerable population groups like women, children, drug and alcohol addicts, Ansari said. He also said there are only 20 psychiatrists per 10 million people compared to the global average of 120. "We have six neurosurgeons per 10 million population compared to the global average of 20." http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=748366 -- 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
