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It also criticised the Centre and the states for the poor state of infrastructure and shortage of manpower in mental health institutions and sought a detailed report on an action plan to improve the same, officials said.
The directives follow visits of the full commission and its special rapporteurs to all 46 state-run mental health institutions in the country over the past few months.
“All 46 government mental healthcare institutions are in a deplorable condition and depict a very pathetic handling by different stakeholders,” the NHRC said in a statement, adding that the sorry state of affairs amounted to infringement of the human rights of mentally ill patients.
“The cured patients are being kept illegally in the hospitals. There is an acute shortage of doctors and staff,” the NHRC said.
Mental health has become a major focus of concern, especially in the post-Covid world. It is, therefore, extremely worrying that the government institutions attending to mental health patients, who need extra care, are in a sorry state. It is also strange that cured patients are being kept in hospitals. The matter needs to be investigated. Other shortcomings too need to be remedied at the earliest.
The commission asked all states and UTs to provide statistics regarding patients discharged in the last five years, and their rehabilitation, reunion with family or community. It also called for a financial or social audit report of the last three years.
“The Union health and family welfare secretary and the director general of health services have to submit a report on the status of framing rules under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 as contemplated under Section 121 of the Act, as well as the establishment of the ‘central authority’ as contemplated under Section 33 of the Act, and filling up vacancies of the central authority and status of execution of various provisions of the Act by the central government,” the NHRC said.
The directors general of police and police commissioners have to submit reports with regard to the status of complaints received or registered relating to mentally ill persons, regarding non-rehabilitation or non-reintegration with families and measures taken or proposed to be taken to ensure that cured persons from mental illness live with their families and other members of the community.
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