Question : PSYCHIATRY PATIENTS

(a) whether attention of the Government has been drawn to the news-item captioned `AIIMS psychiatry has much work` appearing in the `Times of India` dated the July 10, 2002;

(b) if so, the facts of the matter reported therein;

(c) whether it is a fact that the number of psychiatric patients visiting AIIMS for expert medical care has increased many fold by the infrastructural facilities available at AIIMS remain static; and

(d) if so, the remedial measures taken/proposed to be taken to increase the infrastructural facilities?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI A. RAJA)

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) to (d) In all India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, the Department of Psychiatry is performing Walk-in Clinic where patients referred from other departments or registered as new cases are seen on the same day. In addition to the above, the 24 hours emergency services of Psychiatric patients is available. This service operates all days of the week. Up-gradation of facilities within available resources is a continuous process. Moreover, the Institute has its own In-house survey and inspection system to monitor the performance of various areas of the hospital and their efficiency.