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CUTTACK: Even as a sharp increase in manifestation of psychological disorders among the population of the affected districts in post-flood situation is foreseen, the High Court-appointed Monitoring Committee on healthcare services visited the Mental Health Institute (MHI) of the SCB Medical College and Hospital on Tuesday. The committee comprising Amicus Curiae PR Das, lawyer Tarananda Patnaik and PK Pradhan went around the MHI to assess its preparedness and capabilities to handle increasing inflow of the patients. The MHI, however, will struggle to provide proper services if there is a substantial increase in inflow of patients in the coming days. With only around 80 beds at its disposal and 17 doctors, the erstwhile psychiatry department of SCB Medical will find it difficult to accommodate more number of patients. The members held discussions with the authorities, including the head Superintendent of SCB Medical Prof DN Moharana, head of Psychiatry Prof Nilamadhab Kar as well as the heads of engineering wings on improvement of infrastructure and capacities to deal with the impending situation. “We have asked the authorities to make arrangements in available space for putting more beds on temporary basis if need arises. Along with the present bed strength, 15 more can be put up along spaces in the extension of OPD department of MHI”, Das said. The authorities have agreed to provide generator for uninterrupted power supply at the earliest. Sanitation jobs in the department and the wards, which has been outsourced to a private agency, were not satisfactory. “We have asked the authorities to take earnest steps to improve the conditions immediately” , he added. The Institute is undergoing upgradation into a Centre of Excellence at a cost of `18 crore. The Centre-sponsored project envisages upgradation of the institute into a state-of-the-art facility for treatment as well as churning out specialised personnel to deal with mental health problems both medically and socially. A new building would be constructed to accommodate around 40 beds more. Courses in para clinical psychology, psychiatry social worker and psychiatry nursing would be offered through the institute. Prevalence of mental illness in Orissa is pegged at 58.2 per 1,000 persons. While more than 21 lakh are believed to be ill, over seven lakh are seriously ailing at any point of time.
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