Mental Health Crisis: Sassoon Hospital appeals for urgent solution as ‘abandoned’ patient awaits rehabilitation

In their letter to the Mental Health Review Board on August 27, Dr Yellappa Jadhav, medical superintendent, B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital and Dr Niteen Abhivant, Head of the Department, Psychiatry, B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital have urged the board to issue written instructions in the case.

When contacted, Dr Abhivant said that the woman whose right arm was injured allegedly in a road accident was brought to the Emergency room in state-run 10 ambulance service.

“Doctors at the surgery department treated the patient, but noticed that the woman had irrelevant talk and irritability. She was referred to the psychiatry department where the diagnosis indicated psychosis. She is presently on medications but needs long term rehabilitation,” Dr Abhivant said.

A meeting was held on July 30 and on August 28 with the Mental Health Review Board–which is a quasi-judicial body. MHRB authorities said the social welfare department director is the nominated representative. Dr Sunil Patil, member secretary of the board, said that the effort is to rehabilitate mentally ill patients.

Dr Patil, who is the medical superintendent at Regional Mental Hospital, Yerawada, said there are at least four-five rehabilitation centres in Pune. Several patients from regional mental hospital who have no families are cured and fit to be discharged as part of special efforts. “We are looking into this matter,” he said.

When contacted, Pravin Korgantiwar, District Social Welfare Officer said he was not aware of the matter.

At any given time, Sassoon General Hospital has at least 50 persons who are listed in the ‘unknown’ category and occupy in-patient beds for a long period of time.

“There are several patients in the orthopaedic section, other wards while the current patient with psychosis is in the psychiatry ward,” Dr Jadhav said. “Sassoon General Hospital is a tertiary care facility and not a centre to rehabilitate destitute persons,” Dr Jadhav said.

Meanwhile, Sassoon General Hospital authorities have held a meeting with divisional commissioner Chandrashekar Pulkundwar on the issue.