BANGALORE, Aug 18:
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today favoured setting up of regional centres of NIMHANS in the states to treat the mentally ill, but sought separate departments to treat psychiatry related diseases in top medical colleges to begin with.
Speaking after inaugurating new infrastructure facilities at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), the minister said there had been demands from Rajya Sabha members for setting up of regional centers of NIMHANS in all states but it was felt that it would take lot of time.‘I agree that there is a need to set up regional centres of NIMHANS as treatment of people with mental disorders as people are being forced to travel to Bangalore. But this will take time. So, to begin with, we can plan setting up of separate departments for mental health in top medical colleges in each state,’ he said.
Mr Azad said the government would provide funds for equipment and medicine in these departments and would also increase the number of seats in NIMHANS to train more doctors and nurses from these colleges.
Mr Azad said he was pleased to see how Rajya Sabha members of all parties supported the bill seeking to declare NIMHANS as an institute of national importance.
“Members from right, left and centre were so impressed with NIMHANS that they readily supported the bill. Next week, hopefully,
this bill will be passed in the Lok Sabha. They have also demanded that such institutes be set up in all states,” he said.
The bill seeks to declare the city-based NIMHANS as an institution of national importance, in the lines of AIIMS in Delhi.
It helps it get greater academic autonomy on selection of syllabus, confer degrees, increase intake and grow its own manpower without MCI’s approval.
The Minister today inaugurated he e-hospital services, expanded sewage treatment plant, a hostel complex and dining hall. (UNI)
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