13 new mental health review boards planned in state\, doctors welcome move

While there is already a State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) the 13 boards that will be launched awaits approval from the Finance Department. Dr Poorna Chandrika, Deputy Director, Institute of Mental Health (IMH) said, “The approval is for the salary of the members and other financial needs. After the approval, the authority will be brought to power and the District Mental Health Boards (DMHBs) will be formed. Things should materialise in a few months.”

Explaining about the SMHA, Dr Poorna said that though the body was formed in 1994, the authority has been changed recently. The newly formed SMHA consists of one social worker, two NGOs, two patients, who were treated, and two caregivers.

 

On the other hand, the district boards that are expected to be formed soon, will look into all the records relating to admissions and cases in hospitals and clinics. They will also have the rights to interfere and review the personal problems and other needs of the patients, she added.

 

Each of the 13 boards will consist of a District Judge or an officer of the State judicial services, who is qualified to be appointed as District Judge, or a retired District Judge as the chairperson of the Board; a representative of the District Collector or Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner of the districts in which the Board will be constituted; two members of whom one shall be a psychiatrist and the other shall be a medical practitioner; and two members who shall be persons with mental illness or care-givers or persons representing organisations of persons with mental illness or care-givers or non-governmental organisations working in the field of mental health. “Efforts are being made to include patients as members of the DMHBs as they will have a better understanding of what is required,” she said.

Explaining the functions of the boards, a government official said, “The main idea behind introducing the DMHB is to investigate and review issues pertaining to admissions, discharge, complaints that crop up relating to financial, property and other personal issues of the patient. The board will also have a check on the illegal medical centres and quacks.”

The Boards will also take responsibility of the process involved in availing licenses for all mental health homes. In case it is brought to the notice of a Board or the Central or State authority, that a mental health establishment is violating the rights of persons with mental illness, the board may conduct an inquiry and take action to protect their rights, said Dr Chandrika.

According to the Mental Healthcare Act, it may be noted that if the mental health establishment does not comply with the orders or directions of the authority or the board or neglect order or direction, penalty up to Rs five lakh may be imposed on the establishment and the Authority on its own or on the recommendations of the board may also cancel the registration of such mental health establishment after giving an opportunity of being heard.

 

Welcoming the plan to launch these boards in the state, Psychiatrist Dr Leela Mathew, said, “Our state, like many others, have been subject to a number of issues pertaining to corruption and denial of treatment to persons with mental illnesses. The plans to launch these boards was much awaited and it is great that it is expected to come up in the near future.”