Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A slew of improvements promised at Institute of Mental Health

CHENNAI: It took the death of four patients and the illness of many others to turn things over at the Institute of Mental Health. Last week’s unfortunate incident seems to have galvanised the Health Department to literally overhaul Chennai’s only hospital for the mentally ill.

A slew of improvements, from increasing the number of toilets to housing patients in non-dilapidated structures and improving the quality of food, have been promised. Speaking to The Hindu, Principal Secretary, Health, V.K. Subburaj, said the government had already made some crucial changes in the hospital and it would favourably consider other proposals that had been put forth by a number of organisations.

As a first step, some of the patients have been shifted from the old buildings to the new buildings with temporary electrification. The Public Works Department employees are working at electrification, trying to finish in 15 days what they did not in three months. Once that process is complete, 200-300 patients, from the male, female and criminal wards, currently lodged in cramped and crumbling quarters, will be shifted to the fully functional new buildings.

PWD staff is also working on other aspects within the campus: sealing some of the wells, clearing all possible drain leaks and baling out stagnant water.

IMH Director R. Satianathan said in three months’ time, it was also hoped that the entire drainage system would be revamped. Officials of the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation visited the hospital to examine the feasibility of establishing a “reverse osmosis” plant.

Once the plant came up, clean, hygienic water could be provided to the patients’ rooms, he explained.

A revised budget is expected for maintenance of the hospital, and will have to be sanctioned by the government. Unless the funds come in, it will be difficult to sustain the momentum of reforms.

Health Minister MRK Panneerselvam said the financial allocation had already been increased for diet. From Rs.13 per patient per day, the dietary allocation has been increased to Rs. 24 per day per patient. He has also suggested to the officials of the IMH to clear the bushes and convert them into gardens with support from corporates and NGOs.

It would also serve as a means of vocational therapy for the patients, he added.

Meanwhile, in a meeting held with representatives of The Banyan, the Health Secretary promised to consider positively a number of proposals put forth to improve the conditions at the hospital.

“We have to seek the clearance of the Minister and pass government orders, but we are in principle agreed in bringing about much-needed changes at the hospital,” he said.

Vandana Gopikumar of The Banyan who was present during the discussions said they had received time-bound commitments from the Secretary on changing the timing of dinner from 4-30 p.m. to 7 p.m.; increasing the number of cots, mats and quilts; appointing psychologists and social workers on a permanent basis, providing training and orientation to staff and; providing a transit care centre within the premises.

The organisation recently withdrew from its voluntary work in the IMH following an ugly confrontation with hospital staff. However, this may be reviewed in future and their continued involvement was discussed during the meeting, she added.

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