In a nation-wide survey on the ‘overall satisfaction' with the quality of services provided under the District Mental Health Programme(DMHP), Madurai topped, scoring 9.6 out of 10.
One of the aims of the study, conducted by the Indian Council for Market Research, was to understand the comfort levels that the beneficiaries or their family members have with the doctor and medical team.
The beneficiaries of the Madurai DMHP expressed their contentment with the services offered, investing much trust in the doctors treating them. While all the respondents indicated that they were treated with respect and dignity, the majority of them reported that the diagnosis had been clearly explained to them; the doctors had spent sufficient time discussing the patients' condition with them; they had been provided medicines by the personnel treating them after they were told about the purpose of the medicine and its side effects.
Over 93 per cent of the respondents had taken counselling from the hospitals they were referred to in Madurai, again putting it at the top of the list. Again, just under 90 per cent of the patients reported that they were prompt in follow-ups, visiting the hospital at least once every month. It was noticed that none of the respondents were referred to any other hospital for a higher level of treatment, with the team of the DMHP managing the condition effectively.
Health Secretary V.K. Subburaj said the success of Madurai could be attributed to the team there, ably guided by the State DMHP Nodal Officer, C. Ramasubramaniam, a psychiatrist himself. “One of the advantages in Tamil Nadu is that the entire complement of staff – including psychiatrist, psychologist and clinical psychologist are present. They have all been specially trained at NIMHANS, Bangalore,” he added. However, as per the State government's estimation, Ramanathapuram is the best performer (again monitored by the same team).
R.Satianathan, director, Institute of Mental Health, Chennai, said in addition to a good team at work, the advantages of having a team that stuck on for many years are clear in Madurai. Dr. Ramasubramaniam agreed that a good team contributed much, but also indicated that the success would not have been possible without co-operation from the State and district administration. Mohan Isaac, who was part of the first model DMHP implemented by NIMHANS in Bellary district, Karnataka, said recently that the survey had proven that such a programme could actually work and be of benefit to the people.
