The first meeting of the State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) held on Thursday has approved the regulations that deal with different types of mental health establishments in the State and the minimum standards for it.
“Next, the regulations should be notified in the gazette. This may take one month. We will start the registration of mental health professionals and mental health establishments in the State,” an official of SMHA said.
The meeting that was chaired by Health Secretary Beela Rajesh discussed allocation of funds for the Institute of Mental Health, Theni.
Funds allocation
“The institute requires funds for infrastructure and amenities such as cots. This was discussed during the meeting and the necessary measures would be taken,” he added. With a building that was meant for the psychiatry department at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital being utilised for another department, the need to allot at least one of the two floors for psychiatry was raised in the meeting. Health officials had agreed to allot one floor, the official added.
