Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain today exhorted doctors to reach out to mental patients with a missionary zeal and help demystify psychological ailments.
"There are a lot of misconceptions attached to mental ailments. But these are like other diseases. Many people ignore and hide mental ailments," he said at the inauguration of a long-stay home at Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) in east Delhi.
"But society should open up and listen to others more than speaking. That will help in addressing the issue of mental ailments," the minister said.
Jain also urged doctors and psychiatrists to reach out to people as social taboos keep patients in psychological closets.
"We see 'babas' (godmen) holding sermons and engaging people. I say, you (doctors) should also start something like that and engage people in talking about mental health issues.
"As well-qualified professionals, who spent years understanding obscure diseases, you should share with people, in simple language, what these diseases mean and help demystify it so that they (patients) do not feel hesitant," he said.
Jain said, as a society "if we start listening to each other more", then that would be a "revolutionary step" in combating the taboo associated with mental ailments.
The health minister also said that excessive playing of video games is not a healthy sign, and "people should go out in the open and play games to stay fit".
Reiterating that AAP government is committed to creating governance models worth emulating, Jain said, "Our Mohalla Clinics have been lauded in various parts of the world. We were earlier looking for successful models from America (the west), but now America (the west) will copy ours."
"We have tied up with NABH-accredited hospitals. If patients coming to Delhi hospitals have to wait for more than a month to get their surgeries done, they can get it done at these partnering hospitals," he said.
The scheme will be launched soon.
"Thirty of our hospitals and 21 polyclinics are part of this scheme," the minister said.
On December last, the Delhi government had tied up with eight private laboratories to facilitate free MRIs and CT scans for needy patients.
"Many people have complained about this scheme, saying where will the money come from or why only for Delhiites. I say, as our Chief Minister says, there is no dearth of funds but only willpower," Jain said.
"As Delhi has a population of two crore, we are addressing the issues that residents here are facing. Our target is to provide treatment for all people of Delhi, but we will have to work towards it steadily," he said.
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