Joint Secretary NHRC, visits NIMHANS, Bangalore

The Joint Secretary, NHRC, Smt Aruna Sharma, visited the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore, on August 6, 2007. After visiting the various facilities and wards of the Institute, Smt Sharma had a detailed meeting with the officers of the Institute. She said at NIMHANS there were two major issues, which needed to be attended. They were - the OPD timings fixed from 8 a.m to 11 a.m, compelled the outpatients to return back on many occasions and the issue became grave when the patients travelled long distance to reach the hospital. She pointed out that one or two doctors could be made available in the afternoon as well, to assist the screening of such patients.
Secondly, she found that the Institute was in possession of high quality equipment, yet many cases were referred outside. She stressed proper utilization of MRI and CT Scan machines in the Institute. Smt Sharma appreciated the doctors, supporting staff and the administration for doing commendable job in the field of Mental Health. She however, said that their expertise should multiply so that the Central Government Schemes of District Mental Health Programme could be enhanced.
The Joint Secretary highlighted that there was lack of trained manpower and the manpower available should be multiplied manifold. She also suggested that 37 Mental Health Care Institutes, which NHRC was monitoring could become training centers. She also said that the Commission would discuss the possibility of introducing the Nurse Practitioner Course, which called for concurrence with the Medical Council of India (MCI) and Indian Nursing Council (INC). She asked for upgrading the Mental Hospitals to State Training Centre for mental health manpower.
The participants at the meeting pointed out to the need for better salaries, postings in Psychiatry Department and avoiding transfers of existing staff to other working areas. The meeting felt that there was a need to maintain a minimum and essential drug list in these hospitals and in the community, so that medical care reaches the patients.
Smt Sharma assured NHRC support to the scheme to train primary care doctors as in District Mental Health Programme. The role of halfway homes was also discussed in the meeting. The Joint Secretary mentioned the experience of Agra and Gwalior Mental Hospitals where half way homes were run outside, but in close proximity to the Mental Hospitals. It was suggested that this model may be emulated where good NGO network is lacking and a need for supervision existed.