SIR Cowasji Jahangir Institute of Psychiatry Hyderabad is a trust property established in 1865 as a lunatic asylum by a Parsi philanthropist to help mentally challenged people of Sindh and other parts.

The Sindh government has never made effort to improve this facility and turn it into a modern mental health institution of international standard.

This institution has a vital role to play in promoting mental health and treating mental illnesses. Globally incidence of mental illnesses are increasing. I want to highlight some decisions taken by the Sindh health department which go against this hospital’s interests.

In 2004 the then health secretary allotted a 4,125 square yard plot from the institute’s land for the construction of the College of Physicians and Surgeons’ regional office.

In 2009 Extended Programme on Immunisation cold chain divisional store Hyderabad was allowed ‘temporary’ permission to function in the dining hall meant for the institute’s patients and it is still here.

An international NGO signed an agreement with the Sindh government to take care of patients at the institute in lieu of being allowed to build a 60-bed ward. After a few years this NGO handed over this project to another NGO without the Sindh government’s consent.

Of late the health department signed an MOU to hand over to the federal government’s narcotics control force the first floor of a newly constructed OPD block which include four wards, four store rooms and five toilets to set up a detoxification unit for drug addicts. This same service is already being provided by the institute.

This institute is the only hope for the mentally ill. Decisions regarding its property and assets in favour of others should be rescinded immediately. On the behalf of Pakistan Psychiatric Society, I appeal to Sindh chief minister and health authorities to look into the institute’s affairs.

Dr Jamil Junejo

Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2019