KOZHIKODE: On the occasion of ‘World Schizophrenia Day on May 24, the Indian Psychiatric Society, Kerala branch, will release a handbook on the rights and privileges provided by the government for schizophrenia patients.
The book in the regional language will be distributed among the patients, family members, hospitals and rehabilitation centres free of cost.
Calicut Psychiatric Guild president Dr N. Viajayan said, “there are numerous rights charted out for schizophrenia patients by both the state and central governments, which have not been utilised properly due to lack of awareness.”
“Our mission is to give a detailed chart about all these rights, including pension schemes, insurance and disability benefits, job reservation and a gist about the proposed mental health care Bill,” he said.
The Bill states that all government services to schizophrenia patients should be affordable and of good quality without discrimination; but still the state government is hesitating to fulfil these rights, Dr M.T. Harish, guild chairperson said.
The Indian Psychiatric Society, Kerala branch, Calicut Psychiatry Guild and Indian Medical Association will also organise an interactive session on why insurance benefits, including Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), have not been provided to schizophrenia patients in spite of orders from the High Court of Kerala.
