| Headless Psychiatric Hospital Jammu grapples with pressing resource, faculty crunch | | | Avinash Azad
Jammu, May 19: Notwithstanding the documented surge in psychiatric ailments across the region, the only Psychiatry Hospital in entire Jammu division is not only headless for the last one year, in clear violation of MCI norms , the hospital is functioning with only two lecturers and few junior doctors against the sanctioned staff strength.
According to highly placed sources, the hospital immediately requires services of professionals to improve its working. Besides , the hospital doesn't have Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors as required in accordance with the criterion laid by the Medical Council of India.
"The state government is denying proper medicare to patients suffering from depression and other mental disorders…. The casual approach of the state government is quite visible as it failed to strengthen the Psychiatry hospital Jammu where more than 150 patients are daily visiting to seek medical advice or attend counseling sessions. Former HoD of Psychiatry hospital had retired a year back, since then no permanent arrangement has been made by the government for looking after the affairs of the hospital," said sources.
"Non-seriousness of the government towards the hospitals can be gauged from the fact that Dr Anil Mahajan, Head of the Department of Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital has been holding additional charge of the hospital, since the retirement of Dr Jagdish Thapa", sources added.
"Presently, there are three lecturers, including a contractual lecturer", sources informed, adding that instead of strengthening manpower, government is focusing on infrastructure only", the sources regretted.
Highlighting shortcomings in the Sate Health Department, the sources told Early Times that the state Government failed to implement mental health programme for which funds were granted by the Union Health Ministry but the state could not utilize the funds completely which shows the incapability of the department.
"The pace of utilization of funds in state was slow due to which Central government refused to provide additional funds. State has, however, recently submitted a fresh proposal to the Union Health Ministry seeking at least Rs 32 lakh for each district to start the indoor facilities for psychiatric patients and to open regular Out Patient Department (OPD) facilities at district hospitals", sources maintained.
Studies from Asia have shown that 10-20 per cent of children and adolescents have significant mental health problems which in turn affects their functioning. However, in India, about 12 per cent children aged between 4 to 16 years suffer from psychiatric disorders. |
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