Kerala govt. promises to correct deficiencies at Mental Health Centre in Thiruvananthapuram
The Kerala government has committed to addressing infrastructure and staffing deficiencies at the Mental Health Centre in Thiruvananthapuram following a critical judicial review. Judges highlighted the prison-like conditions and the severe shortage of essential staff, which prevents proper patient care and integration.
Why it matters
This case highlights the intersection of judicial oversight and public health, emphasizing the need for humane conditions in state-run psychiatric facilities.
Close on the heels of the directive issued by judges of the Kerala High Court on July 21, after their inspection of the infrastructure and inmates’ affairs at the Mental Health Centre (MHC) here, the government has promised to do the needful to resolve the immediate issues faced by the institution.
In their judicial review running into pages, Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Basant Balaji had expressed much concern and anguish over the fact that the MHC, instead of developing as a patient-centric, modern psychiatric hospital with facilities for the health, wellness and social integration of mentally ill patients, was continuing to function like a prison where patients were confined to their cells, with no opportunities for any recreation or relaxation beyond the four walls.
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