Srinagar, Oct 11: The presence of several patients with criminal charges at Government Psychiatric Disease Hospital here has been seen as threat to the rehabilitation of scores of other psychiatric patients admitted there.
 Even after doctors at the hospital certified that number of patients with criminal charges there had psychiatric disorders, they (the accused) are still staying in the hospital with security guards.
 The medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr M A Margoob yesterday on Mental Health Day presented a memorandum before the Legal Services Authority Srinagar regarding the mental ill patients and prisoners present there.
 In its memorandum hospital authorities said for past several years many problems had crept with regard to the efficient care of the patients. Mushtaq said number of patients with criminal charges had been admitted in the hospital even after it was certified that they were psychiatric patients. He said, “Since this hospital does not have facility for forensic cases, patients involved in crime as an outcome of psychiatric disorder, we face lot of difficulty in management of these cases.”
 He said most of these patients were good for outpatient therapy if released on bail. He said their release would ensure a better medicare for them as well as to other patients. “Many patients were sent to the hospital after a court order in which proper procedure as regard by the Mental Health Act (MHA) was not followed,” he said.
 He said, “Some juvenile patients are admitted in the hospital after a court order. This hospital does not have facility for juveniles. As per the MHA juveniles cannot be admitted at the same places with adults. Since these patients are admitted with other adult patients thereby enhancing the risk of injury and other problems.”
 The hospital authorities have appealed to the Legal Authority to alleviate the problems of the patients by implementing the procedures set by the MHA.
 The hospital authorities later took the patients to Badamwari for an outing. They enjoyed good music and food there arranged by the hospital authorities.
Tariq Rasool Adds From Bandipore: The Legal Services Authority in Bandipora on Wednesday organized a seminar to safeguard the interests and rights of mentally challenged persons.
 The seminar was organized by chairperson of LSA Bandipora Muhammad Ibrahim Wani to observe the day as a step towards the rehabilitation of the psychiatric patients.
 Besides the members of the Judiciary various officers from medical service and civil administration of the area also participated in the seminar and spoke at length about the rights of the mentally challenged persons.
 Wani threw light on the legal rights of the mentally challenged.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST