REVIEW MEETING ON MENTAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES
A review meeting on implementation of NHRC's recommendations on Mental Health and Human Rights was held in NIMHANS, Bangalore on 20th-21st January, 2009. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Justice G.P. Mathur, Member, NHRC. The participants included Members and Senior Officers of NHRC, Director and faculty of NIMHANS.
Dr. Pratima Murthy from NIMHANS in her presentation highlighted the status of compliance of NHRC's recommendations. She said, following NHRC's 1999 report on quality assurance and mental health and subsequent monitoring of conditions in mental hospitals by NHRC, there were several positive outcomes including better budget provisions, reduction in voluntary admissions, improvement in general amenities, support services, living conditions and diet. Dr. Murthy also pointed out that there have been some problem areas also. These include staff shortages, inadequate psycho social interventions, continuation of closed wards in many hospitals and lack of post-graduate training. She highlighted that some mental hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala and West Bengal are yet to achieve desired standards in several areas, and therefore require vigorous monitoring. After detailed discussions at the meeting it was agreed that NHRC may conduct five regional review meetings on mental health in 2009-2010.
During the discussions it was also suggested that NIMHANS may provide a proforma for review of National Mental and Health Programme which will be circulated to all the State Governments for feedback. In the regional reviews, apart from mental hospitals, the National Mental Health Programme may also be viewed from human rights perspective.
It was also suggested that in addition to Health Secretaries of States, Superintendent and Director of the concerned Mental Hospitals in the States and Professors from the Department of Psychiatry in the Medical Colleges could be called. The other important issues discussed at Bangalore meeting included evolving scheme for promotion and prevention in child mental health, mental health audit in juvenile justice homes. The issue of shortage of doctors also came up for discussions in detail and it was decided that the Medical Council of India could be asked to relax its standard from the present one student: one professor ratio to one Professor: two students ratio.
Alternatively, a recommendation to the Supreme Court could be made by the NHRC to enable it to give appropriate directions to the Medical Council of India. Mr. A.K. Jain, Secretary General, NHRC suggested that many mental hospitals and other institutions have moved proposals for allowing courses. They have also sent proposals for augmentation of facilities and funds. He requested NIMHANS to collect and give consolidated lists of such proposals whcih will facilitate follow up by NHRC.
On 21st January, 2009 all members of NHRC delegation visited different units of NIMHANS to acquaint themselves with their work.
Dr. Pratima Murthy from NIMHANS in her presentation highlighted the status of compliance of NHRC's recommendations. She said, following NHRC's 1999 report on quality assurance and mental health and subsequent monitoring of conditions in mental hospitals by NHRC, there were several positive outcomes including better budget provisions, reduction in voluntary admissions, improvement in general amenities, support services, living conditions and diet. Dr. Murthy also pointed out that there have been some problem areas also. These include staff shortages, inadequate psycho social interventions, continuation of closed wards in many hospitals and lack of post-graduate training. She highlighted that some mental hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala and West Bengal are yet to achieve desired standards in several areas, and therefore require vigorous monitoring. After detailed discussions at the meeting it was agreed that NHRC may conduct five regional review meetings on mental health in 2009-2010.
During the discussions it was also suggested that NIMHANS may provide a proforma for review of National Mental and Health Programme which will be circulated to all the State Governments for feedback. In the regional reviews, apart from mental hospitals, the National Mental Health Programme may also be viewed from human rights perspective.
It was also suggested that in addition to Health Secretaries of States, Superintendent and Director of the concerned Mental Hospitals in the States and Professors from the Department of Psychiatry in the Medical Colleges could be called. The other important issues discussed at Bangalore meeting included evolving scheme for promotion and prevention in child mental health, mental health audit in juvenile justice homes. The issue of shortage of doctors also came up for discussions in detail and it was decided that the Medical Council of India could be asked to relax its standard from the present one student: one professor ratio to one Professor: two students ratio.
Alternatively, a recommendation to the Supreme Court could be made by the NHRC to enable it to give appropriate directions to the Medical Council of India. Mr. A.K. Jain, Secretary General, NHRC suggested that many mental hospitals and other institutions have moved proposals for allowing courses. They have also sent proposals for augmentation of facilities and funds. He requested NIMHANS to collect and give consolidated lists of such proposals whcih will facilitate follow up by NHRC.
On 21st January, 2009 all members of NHRC delegation visited different units of NIMHANS to acquaint themselves with their work.