HYDERABAD: Express spoke to Institute of Mental Health superintendent Dr M Uma Shanker regarding some of the key allegations in the anonymous email that Express verified, namely, regarding the number of patients who have not been discharged, lack of emergency services and poor care to mentally ill patients.
The superintendent said that doctors inform family members once the discharge committee, which meets once a month, declares a patient to be fit for discharge.
With respect to lack of any ambulance in the hospital, he said, “If we don’t have that one vehicle(Tata Sumo), we call 108-Emergency service. If specialised treatment is needed, we send the patients to other hospitals,” he said, adding that they have requested for ambulances, general medicine unit for the hospital. He said that some emaciated patients are given high protein diet too.
Regarding spread of contagious skin diseases because of overcrowding, Dr Uma Shankar denied the allegation and said that if a patient is suffering from contagious skin infection, they isolate such patient if needed. “We send a specialist for treatment. Each patient has three to four sets of clothes so that there will be at least one set ready to wear,” he said.
No rehabilitation system
The state does not have an established system to rehabilitate patients who are declared fit to be discharged. Superintendent of IMH too said that if there are rehabilitation homes, the process of discharging patients becomes easy. “We will definitely send the people who are declared fit people to the home,” Dr Uma Shankar said.
‘Will provide basic facilities’
Telangana’s director of Medical Education (DME), Dr K Ramesh Reddy who confirmed that he has received the e-mail from the anonymous person, said that he has communicated with IMH’s superintendent over the issue.