Miscellaneous
Mental health policy in the offing, says Minister Thapa
Minister for Health Gagan Kumar Thapa has said the government is formulating a mental health policy soon.Rastriya Samachar Samiti
Minister for Health Gagan Kumar Thapa has said the government is formulating a mental health policy soon.
Laying the foundation stone for the Child Mental Health Centre’s building on the premises of Kanti Children’s Hospital in Kathmandu on Saturday, Minister Thapa expressed his confidence that the policy will provide guidelines for the treatment of the mentally-ill.
Urging parents to be aware of the mental health issues in children in time, Thapa said the government had started providing mental health services for children in the Kanti Hospital.
Dr Kiran Regmi, chief specialist at the Ministry of Health, spoke of the need for the parents to seek medical assistance for any mental complications in children.
Director of Kanti Children’s Hospital Dr Ajit Rayamajhi said that the hospital had forwarded a new plan for ensuring treatment of the children with mental health issues.
The building, estimated to cost Rs30 million, will be constructed within two years.
A study conducted by the hospital showed that around 10-15 percent of the total children brought to the hospital for medical intervention were found to have mental complications.