*15-FEB-2012* *Atikh Rashid*
*PUNE* : The medical check-up drive undertaken by Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) to ascertain the mental health of bus drivers is in full swing. By Tuesday evening, 242 of its 572 drivers from Swargate, Shivajinagar and Chinchwad depots underwent the check-up, and according to doctors, none of them was diagnosed with mental illness. The doctors, however, added that several drivers showed signs of stress. The checkup drive was announced by the MSRTC soon after one of its drivers, Santosh Mane, on January 25 forcibly took charge of a bus and drove erratically on city roads killing eight person and injuring 28. The check-up involves stress parameters such as blood pressure and blood sugar levels among other tests. Medical history of the drivers is also being checked for psychiatric disorders. “We have come across several cases, roughly about 20 per cent, wherein the drivers showed symptoms of stress, but none of them was showed any sign of a psychiatric disorder. Several others complained of backache and other problems related to driving. Some of them are already taking treatment while others are being referred to hospitals for further medical assistance,” said Dr Anita Joshi, honorory medical officer with MSRTC and one of the two doctors who are conducting the check-ups. Vijaykumar Divate, Swargate depot manager, said after the checkups are over, ways to ameliorate the current situation would be suggested in a comprehensive report. At the Chinchwad depot, about 40 drivers underwent check-ups. Of these, nine showed symptoms of stress and were referred to Sassoon Hospital. “It will take two to three days to complete the check-ups,” said M M Shaikh, depot manager, Chinchwad. Medical check-ups in Shivajinagar and Swargate are expected to go on for six more days. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/doctors-find-no-mental-illness-in-242-msrtc-bus-drivers/912254/0 -- 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
