KARACHI, May 16: The Sindh government has been unable to notify the constitution of a board that is required under the Mental Health Ordinance (MHO), 2001 due to “non-cooperation” of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), said sources in the provincial health department.

It has been learnt that the names of six out of seven members of the board were finalised with the consent of the quarters concerned some time back. But the provincial health department failed to get the name of the PMDC’s nominee, despite making repeated requests.

Under the MHO, which replaced the Lunacy Act 1912 to ensure better provisions for the care of mentally ill persons, a ‘board of visitors’ was to be established in every province to carry out periodic inspections of psychiatric facilities, both in the public and private sectors in its jurisdiction.

The board is also authorised to examine, as far as possible, every patient and mentally ill prisoner and inspect records and documents relating to the patients and prisoners in question. It can also make recommendations to psychiatric facilities, the Federal Mental Health Authority (FMHA), constituted under section three of the MHO, and the government, concerning improvement of conditions of such facilities.

The board of visitors, if required by the FMHA, may also visit any patient in case it appears necessary for purposes of investigating any particular matter, or matters related to the capacity of the patient to manage his property and affairs, or otherwise relating to the exercise of its functions.

Sources said that the name of Justice Ghaus Mohammad, who is also the chairperson of the Sindh Judicial Academy, had been received from the competent authority as the proposed chairperson of the board of visitors. Names of two psychiatrists, one prominent citizen, one medical practitioner of repute and director general, health services, Sindh, have also been received for the board. Only the name of the PMDC nominee is awaited.

If the board is made functional it could help in addressing issues like bad treatment reportedly being meted out to the mentally ill in some institutions.

Dr Haroon Ahmad, President of the Pakistan Association for Mental Health, said that besides making the provincial board of visitors operational, the government should also move for a set of rules and regulations, without which any implementation of the MHO would remain inefficient.

The government should reassess its policy and review the development made towards the implementation of the ordinance during the last six years, he said, adding that a lot of things required to be done to change the attitude of the public and get rid of undesirable practices observed in the case of mentally ill persons in the country.