Neuropsychiatry for General Practitioners
The Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Justice M.N.Venkatachaliah, has called upon General Medical Practitioners to give a human face to their profession and urged them to take into consideration the emotional and social needs of their patients, specially the mentally ill. He was inaugurating a Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programme on Neuropsychiatry for general practitioners on 1 August 1999.
Stating that, in the age of super-specialties and high-tech institutions, the tasks performed by the general practitioners should not be undermined, Mr.Justice Venkatachaliah said "With the medical profession becoming high-tech day by day, with everyone wanting to become a specialist, the doctor-patient relationship is also changing. The institution, that was called a general practitioner, has disappeared and modern medicine has become largely commercialised". Stressing the need for a better doctor-patient relationship, he asked the practitioners to recall the great roles that doctor are meant to play in the world of their patients.
The Chairperson said that mental illnesses today were increasing owing to the changing life styles and pressures of the present era. He hoped that, in times to come, there would be a significant improvement in mental health services.
Prof. S.D. Sharma, President of the World Association of Social Psychiatry and Founder-Director of Institute for Human Behavior and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), said that, in India, about 10-12 million persons suffered from serious mental illness. If neurotic and psychosomatic disorders are included, the number would increase three-fold. General practitioners were the first line of contact with the patients and hence their training in mental health was very necessary. He lamented the shortage of trained manpower in mental health in the country and emphasised the need for concerted efforts to face the increasing mental health disorders.
Dr. R.D. Bansal of the Medical Council of India observed that mentally ill patients can best be attended by a team of multi-disciplinary experts. The attitude and priorities with respect to mental health need to be changed and a pl anned approach is required to integrate mental health with physical well being. This requires professional commitment on part of doctors.
The programme was organised by the IHBAS in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The IHBAS, which has been conducting CME programmes for Government doctors, has now taken up the training of private practitioners of the IMA at the suggestion of the National Human Rights Commission.
Stating that, in the age of super-specialties and high-tech institutions, the tasks performed by the general practitioners should not be undermined, Mr.Justice Venkatachaliah said "With the medical profession becoming high-tech day by day, with everyone wanting to become a specialist, the doctor-patient relationship is also changing. The institution, that was called a general practitioner, has disappeared and modern medicine has become largely commercialised". Stressing the need for a better doctor-patient relationship, he asked the practitioners to recall the great roles that doctor are meant to play in the world of their patients.
The Chairperson said that mental illnesses today were increasing owing to the changing life styles and pressures of the present era. He hoped that, in times to come, there would be a significant improvement in mental health services.
Prof. S.D. Sharma, President of the World Association of Social Psychiatry and Founder-Director of Institute for Human Behavior and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), said that, in India, about 10-12 million persons suffered from serious mental illness. If neurotic and psychosomatic disorders are included, the number would increase three-fold. General practitioners were the first line of contact with the patients and hence their training in mental health was very necessary. He lamented the shortage of trained manpower in mental health in the country and emphasised the need for concerted efforts to face the increasing mental health disorders.
Dr. R.D. Bansal of the Medical Council of India observed that mentally ill patients can best be attended by a team of multi-disciplinary experts. The attitude and priorities with respect to mental health need to be changed and a pl anned approach is required to integrate mental health with physical well being. This requires professional commitment on part of doctors.
The programme was organised by the IHBAS in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The IHBAS, which has been conducting CME programmes for Government doctors, has now taken up the training of private practitioners of the IMA at the suggestion of the National Human Rights Commission.