Kottakal: The Kerala State Mental Health Authority, the body that regulates the mental health care system in the state, has become desperate due to negligence on the part of the state government. It has been a year since the mandatory meeting of the body constituted by the Notification Bulletin has been held in 2021. This negligence on the part of the authorities involved arises despite the fact that Section 56 of the Mental Health Care Law orders that four meetings be held. meetings in a year.
Law enforcement members also objected to an order issued Jan. 4 establishing a unilaterally appointed committee to identify and appoint members of the Mental Health Review Board. They alleged that the committee to find review board members to oversee mental health treatment consists of two deputy secretaries and a physician with no experience in mental health care. Eminent psychiatrist and authority figure Dr. CJ John also sent an email to the Chief Secretary for Health describing this flaw. However, no response has been received in this regard.
There are also complaints against the appointment of the Director General of the Mental Health Authority. Under Section 123 of the Mental Health Care Act, the Mental Health Authority must determine the qualifications and salary of the designee. They appointed an undersecretary not related to the health sector. In the order, the government inserted a new word ‘administrative secretary’ in the provision for the deputy secretary of government.
This change made by the government was challenged by psychologist Dr. Basheerkutty and Father George Joshua through a petition filed with the high court. This government addition was later overturned by the ruling of Judge Sunil Thomas. He said the government should issue a new order within a month. However, no action was taken in this regard.
Previously, psychiatrists had key roles in the Mental Health Authority. It has been alleged that there are vested interests behind bringing people not related to the health sector as doctors into government service.
.
