Kerala: Patients at government hospitals deprived of psychiatric care
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With only 4 of the 14 government run de-addiction centres in the district hospitals having the facility of clinical psychologists, the patients coming to these centres are deprived of counselling which is one of the most important components of treatment and rehabilitation programme. Sources said many of the clinical psychologists who are mainly post graduates and PHd holders, were not quite keen to work in de-addiction centres under psychiatrists.
Apart from absence of psychologists, absence of security staff has affected the operations of de- diction centres at many paces including Karunagapally and Kottarakkara. While experts have suggested residential treatment and rehabilitation programmes, at the moment, there is no such facility in the government sector. However, day-care centres are functioning in some of the districts. According to a recent survey, the estimated prevalence of alcohol related problems in the study population of 1,92,980 residents covering 45,886 households, was 1.09 per cent.
Of these, 50 per cent people had clinically significant problems related to alcohol abuse. This pattern was seen in almost all districts. But the highest number of alcohol related problems was reported from Idukki district which ironically does not have a de-addiction centre. Another hill district, Wayanad too does not have a de-addiction centre. Many of the existing centres are functioning without proper facilities. Though the state currently has 77 psychiatrists, considering the patient rush at the centres there is need for more trained psychiatrists especially for the district hospitals.
Trained staff is also required to handle patients with withdrawal symptoms. Pscyho pharmacology stores are needed at these centres to make available cost effective psychiatric medicines. Officials have claimed that proposals for more de-addiction centres and creation of posts of clinical psychologists and psychiatrists are pending with the government .
