Medical Education Minister for starting PG Psychiatry at all State GMCs
Girish Mahajan
By Vikas Vaidya
Except five medical colleges run by Government and Municipal Corporation that too in Mumbai and Pune, no other Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Maharashtra has Post Graduation department of Psychiatry. On the contrary, every private medical college does have PG in Psychiatry. Considering the need for the PG, the Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan has decided to bring PG course in Psychiatry in all the GMCs.
Girish Mahajan told ‘The Hitavada”, “The increasing number of patients suffering from various mental disorders is the issue of concern. The need for having PG in Psychiatry has arisen. Some GMCs in State fulfill the necessary conditions, some don’t. We will upgrade the departments in the GMCs where the facilities lack. At some places arrangement like tie-up can be made. For example, in Nagpur’s Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is being signed with Regional Mental Hospital. This will help IGGMCH in raising its number of beds. Such adjustments can be made elsewhere also.”
For starting PG in Psychiatry, the college has to fulfill certain conditions. They include — there should be a ward of 30 beds, there should be post of Professor, the GMC must have certificate of essentiality. Nagpur’s Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) fulfills all the above condition. The IGGMCH has 15 beds (lesser by 15 beds). It has essentiality certificate. Till day before yesterday it did not have post of Professor as Professor Subir Waradkar was transfered to Gondia. But now Dr Abhishek Somani has been elevated to Professor. During the tenure of Dr Prakash Wakode as Dean of IGGMCH, an unique experiment was initiated under which IGGMCH had tied up with Regional Mental Hospital. Through the tie-up, it was supposed to get two wards of Mental Hospital 30 beds each attached to it. It could have fulfilled the bed condition. Unfortunately, Department of Public Heatlh did not give nod yet. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is very keen to have it in IGGMCH. Mental hospital will provide ward and space while teaching aspect will be given by IGGMCH. Navin Kumar, Managing Director of Public Health had said yes but it is only on paper. There is another rule that says the hospital whom the ward is attached should be in the vicinity of 5 kms of it. Mental Hospital is in that vicinity of IGGMCH.
Benefits of PG in GMCs
The PG in Psychiatry is running in five hospitals— two are of Medical Education while three are under Municipal Corporation. Four PG are in Mumbai while one is in Pune, whereas all private medical colleges have the course.
Girish Mahajan, Medical Education Minister told ‘The Hitavada’, “The poor students are being deprived of doing PG in psychiatry. They can’t afford the fees being charged by private medical colleges. Starting in GMCs will benefit such students.”
Together in Nagpur GMCH and IGGMCH, average 200 patients attend Outpatient Department of Psychiatry daily. Since no PG activity is running, the patients of higher order or aggressive ones can not be admitted. The de-addiction services are also can not be run. The patients are not sent to Mental Hospital as it can admit only on Court order. Because of which most of the patients have to go to private hospitals. Against the backdrop of suicide cases in Nagpur and around, the patients need to be counseled which can not be done. Starting PG will end all these problems.
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