All patients in K’taka should have access to mental healthcare by 2022: Harsh Vardhan

Bengaluru: By 2022, not a single patient in Karnataka should be deprived of mental health treatment and the same should be the medical fraternity’s goal, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said at the 24th convocation of National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) on Monday.

He said Nimhans had a major role to play in realising the Centre’s plan to build a strong, prosperous and all-encompassing New India by 2022.

During the convocation, 176 postgraduates received various degrees and certificates and 14, including nine women, were honoured with meritorious awards. “Conduct research not for glorifying your curriculum vitae but for eliminating problems of society and the poor,” said the minister addressing the postgraduates.

“It’s good to know that all Karnataka districts are covered by the district mental health programme. Overall, 655 districts across the country are covered and the initiative will be expanded to the others,” he said, hailing the role of Nimhans in the programme.

Harsh Vardhan called upon Nimhans to be the mentor for other institutions working in mental health education sector. Four new centres of excellence at the institute were inaugurated: Nimhans digital academy and centres for integrative medicine, consciousness studies and disaster management.

Chief minister BS Yediyurappa said land will be allotted for the expansion of Nimhans in north Bengaluru soon. The government has already allotted 30 acres of land to Nimhans for establishing a poly trauma centre. “Ten more acres of land will soon be handed over. Karnataka is a leader in delivering mental health services,” said the CM.

Dr BN Gangadhar, director, Nimhans, said the hospital ranks fourth in the country in the Mera Aspataal (my hospital) survey conducted by the Union health ministry to rate the government. “Over 3,300 hospitals were covered under the study. Among national institutions, we rank second,” he said.

He said ESI hospital had urged Nimhans to start a mental healthcare unit at ESI Kalaburagi and the request was being considered.