Mumbai: Only one psychiatrist for over 42,000 prisoners in state

Updated On: 10 October, 2022 05:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar Menon

Experts point to prisoners’ right to healthcare, non-implementation of Mental Healthcare Act for poor facilities available to jail inmates

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Inmates at Nagpur Central Jail undergo a training to check blood pressure. Training existing prison staff and inmates in identifying signs of mental illnesses can ease the situation, said experts

On the occasion of World Mental Health Day today, mid-day looked into the condition of mental healthcare available to prisoners lodged in jails across Maharashtra. There are 42,577 prisoners in the state, but there is only one psychiatrist and two psychologists to attend to them. The state has also not implemented the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, which mandates one mental health unit in at least one prison in each state. mid-day had on October 10 highlighted the latest statistics on basic medical care available in jails across the state, painting a worrying picture.

Worrisome statistics

Dr Soumitra Pathare, consultant psychiatrist and director of the Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society in Pune, who had provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in drafting the Mental Healthcare Act, said, “The situation only highlights the deficiency and condition that prevails in the prisons of Maharashtra and across the country today. It is unfortunate that the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 is yet to be fully implemented in Maharashtra.” “It is the responsibility of the State to ensure their [prisoners’] safety and provide them with healthcare facility, including mental healthcare,” said Dr Pathare.

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