IN response to the threat of disempowering long stay mental hospitals in Sindh and Punjab, two veteran psychiatrists strongly opposed the recent decisions by the governments of Sindh and Punjab respectively in two independent pieces in Dawn (Feb 17 and Feb 20). Both argued a traditionist view to preserve the history of mental healthcare in the country and inadvertently reinforced an institutionalised model of care which has long been recognised as unsuccessful all over the world.

There is no empirical evidence to suggest that these mental hospitals in Pakistan have created a positive impact in terms of quality clinical care, capacity building or research. These have been the houses of cards monopolising service delivery and glorifying professionals, without any audit of performance outcomes.

Pakistan is a signatory to the WHO mental health action plan which clearly aims to provide comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings. Both, Sindh and Punjab passed their mental health legislation at least five years back and have not even initiated any implementation.

There is a serious need for formulating a comprehensive mental healthcare plan at the provincial level to assess population needs and available resources to plan services scientifically, and not whimsically.

Asma Humayun
Consultant Psychiatrist, Islamabad
Murad M Khan
Prof of Psychiatry, Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2019