News

Volume 5 Issue 2 - January 15, 2007

Chennai Institute of Mental Health to become a regional centre of excellence

D.N.I.S. News Network -Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has announced that the Institute of Mental Health in Chennai will be one of the six mental health institutions to be upgraded as regional centres of excellence. Moreover, the Union Government will invest in modernising mental health institutions in India.

Addressing the annual conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society, he said Rs. 3 crore would be given to the Chennai institution as an initial measure. The other centres of excellence are located in Chandigarh, Ranchi, Bangalore, Guwahati and Nagpur.

The Minister announced that the move is part of a major programme to revamp institutional infrastructure for better mental health care across India. He further stated that the Government would invest in modernising the 36 mental health institutions in the country. Nearly 1.5 crore people need hospitalisation, while the bed strength is just around 10,000. Moreover, there was only one psychiatrist per three lakh population, and in rural areas there was only one psychiatrist per million of the population, he said.