Uttarakhand: Dhami expressed confidence, Secretary Health showed work… Approval of mental health manual, drug de-addiction centers will be rein
Uttarakhand’s mental health manual has been approved by the cabinet held on Thursday after getting the green signal from the central government. In fact, the opinions of government and non-government, intellectuals, people associated with social work were taken regarding the preparation of the draft of mental health manual. After which the final draft of its manual was prepared. Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar has congratulated the team of the health department after the Cabinet approved the Mental Health Manual.
Let us inform that the Government of India had implemented the Mental Health Care Act in the year 2017. Along with this, all the states were instructed to make policy and rules under this act. In this sequence, the State Mental Health Authority was formed in the year 2019. But due to lack of its rules, the authority was not able to work. Therefore, the Health Department prepared a draft of the Mental Health Manual and the proposal was sent to the Central Government for its permission.
After which the central government approved and now the Dhami cabinet has also approved this rule. The same, Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar said that after getting the approval of the Mental Health Rules, now it will be mandatory to register psychiatrists, nurses, psychiatrists, social workers with de-addiction centers, mental health institutes in the state. However, free registration of psychiatrists will be done. But the de-addiction centers or mental health institutions operating in the state will have to compulsorily register with the authority by paying a fee. Under the rules, two thousand rupees will be charged for one year’s temporary license, while a fee of 20 thousand will have to be paid for permanent registration.
These rules will have to be followed in health institutions
- De-addiction centers cannot keep a mental patient hostage in a room.
- The patient will be kept in de-addiction centers on the advice of the doctor.
- Patients will be discharged on doctor’s consultation.
- It will be mandatory to display menu of fees, stay, food in the centre.
- It will be necessary to keep a psychiatrist, a doctor for the treatment of patients.
- It will be mandatory to have open space for mental patients in the center.
- Monitoring will be done at the district level through the Mental Health Review Board.
- Phone facility for mental patients to talk to their relatives.
- The distance from one bed to another has also been fixed in the rooms.
Provision of jail and fine for violation of rules
- Action will be taken for violating the rules of Mental Health Rules.
- Provision of fine ranging from 5 thousand to 50 thousand for the first time violation.
- Provision for fine up to two lakh rupees for the second violation.
- Provision for fine up to five lakh rupees for repeated violations.
- Institutions operating without registration will be fined Rs 25,000.
- Provision for action against the person for violation of the rule made under the Act.
- For the first offence, imprisonment of six months, or fine of ten thousand rupees, or both.
- For repeated violations, two years in jail or a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh, or both.
