NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, INDIA
have access to better, affordable, accessible and more comprehensive healthcare facilities. The
given Chapter throws light upon the work in the domain of ensuring right to health and mental
health undertaken by the Commission during the year 2019-20.
A.
Mental Health: National Level Review Meeting on Mental Health
6.5
The Commission had organized a National Level Review Meeting on Mental Health on 7th August
2019 at India International Centre, New Delhi. The meeting was organized with the objective of
reviewing the status of mental healthcare service delivery in India with special reference to
implementation of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 by the States. The meeting was inaugurated
by Justice Shri H.L. Dattu, Hon’ble Chairperson, NHRC and attended by the senior officials of
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare namely, Ms. Preeti Sudan, Secretary, Shri Sanjeeva Kumar,
Additional Secretary and Chairperson, Central Mental Health Authority, Shri Luv Aggarwal, Joint
Secretary, and representatives of Ministry of AYUSH, State Human Rights Commissions, Medical
Council of India, Indian Nursing Council, Directors of Mental Health Institutions,experts in the
field of mental health and representatives of civil society organizations and Non- Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) working in the field of mental health.
6.6
The programme was divided into various Technical Sessions. In the Technical Session-I, the
Status of Mental Healthcare in India was discussed and in the Technical Session-II, the discussion
was on the Status of Implementation of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. This session was chaired
by Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and various State representatives made their
power point presentations about their best practices and bottlenecks i.e., the kind of issues they
are facing in delivery of mental healthcare services and in implementation of mental healthcare
Act, 2017. In the Technical Session-III, there were two panel discussions, one was on Access
to Mental Healthcare - integration of mental health services into general healthcare services
and the second was on strengthening of manpower in the area of mental healthcare services.
The daylong meeting was concluded with remarks from Justice Shi P.C. Pant, Member, NHRC.
The meeting successfully carried out intensive deliberations on the issues faced by the States
and the best practices which other States can also replicate. Many questions were put forth by
various civil society organizations and NGOs which were answered by the Ministry Officials and
the panelists.
6.7
Shri Sanjeeva Kumar, Additional Secretary and Chairperson, Central Mental Health Authority,
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed that only 19 States have implemented the Mental
Healthcare Act so far. He said 10.6 percent of the adult population in the country suffers from
mental health issues. Justice Dattu emphasized that there is a requirement of 13500 psychiatrists
but only 3827 are available. Against the requirement of 20250 clinical psychologists only 898
are available. Similarly, there is an acute shortage of paramedical staff also. However, Shri Luv
Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare assured that the Government
of India is making investment under the National Mental Health Programme to bridge this huge
gap. Government has recently established a Digital Academy with the help of The National
ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20
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