LAHORE: As many as 600 patients of different mental illness visit Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH) every day while many qualified persons including doctors, engineers, retired officials and graduates are among the patients admitted to the hospital.This was stated by DMS of the Punjab Institute of Mental Health, Dr Ashfaq Ahmed while talking to APP here on Sunday. He said that at least one percent of the patients in the hospital belonged to educated class and painting the picture of the apathy of their family and society.
He said that patients of mental illness belonging to all over the country including AJK, south and north Waziristan had been visiting this institute while in many cases heirs after getting their patients admitted in this institute did not contact the management about their patients condition.–APP
Responding to a question about the facilities being provided in the institute, the DMS said that hospital of 1400-bed providing all modes of treatment including electro convulsive therapy through psychiatrists. He said that hospital had a special medical healthcare centre to provide general medical care to mentally ill patients. It has 24-hour round the clock emergency department and OPD facilities.
To a question, he said that around 500 to 600 patients of mental ailments visited its OPD every day. Regarding medicines, he said that all kinds of medicines had been providing free of cost to patients.
However, there is shortage of staff in the hospital as many posts of senior psychiatrists, psychiatrists, medical officers, RMOs, pharmacists, male and female nurses, technicians and other cadres are vacant in hospital due to which problems have to face while dealing the rising number of patients both at its OPDs and registered categories.
He said that the institute was in dire need of specialist psychiatrists and paramedics to provide better mental healthcare to its registered and outdoor patients, he informed.