28-Nov-2012
With a serious shortfall in funding for the treatment of mental illnesses in
the country, an expert has called for an increase in the health budget.
BANGALORE: Dr Shekhar Saxena, director of the department of Mental Health and
Substance Abuse, World Health Organisation (WHO), said India currently spent
only three per cent of the total health budget to treat mental illnesses, while
many developing countries allocate more than 13 per cent for the purpose.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Centre for Public Health and a symposium on
‘public health priorities in mental, neurological and substance abuse (MNS)
disorders and injuries’ on Tuesday, Saxena said the burden of mental disease
was higher in developing countries than in developed countries.
“The priority now will be to set up more designated centres at public health
centres in collaboration with the WHO to cater to the mental health challenges
in society and the country at large,” he said.
According to statistics compiled by the WHO, one in four people worldwide
suffer from mental health issues, including those stemming from neurological
and substance abuse.
The numbers are significantly larger than sufferers of any other common disease
in the world. Saxena said cases of depression among women between the age of 15
and 44 were more than maternal deaths, which normally receive greater
attention.
“Some 62 per cent of psychiatric beds in the world are still located in mental
hospitals, which stigmatises the patient rather than having a community
approach to treat mental health problems,” Saxena said and added that there was
a severe shortage of psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists and nurses to
treat the growing number of mental health patients.
Sujaya Krishnan, joint secretary to the Union Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, said as Nimhans had established a centre for public health, the
institute had a large role to play in addressing mental health issues.
“We are expecting a three-fold increase in the budgetary allocation for the
health sector in 12th Five Year Plan,” she said.
Dr G Gururaj, professor and head of Epidemiology, who would be heading the new
centre for public health, said it would focus on the neglected mental health
issues.
“Nimhans is planning to take up one district (as yet undecided) for their pilot
project to study mental health issues. The approach of the programme will be
different from the National Mental Health Programme,” he said.
Gururaj said Nimhans would also introduce a two-year MPH (Master of Public
Health) course to empower the mental health programme.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/294882/mental-healthcare-sector-cries-funds.html
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