Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has recently signed an MoU with the Department of Health and Human Services of the Government of the US;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the details of the target set to be achieved as per the said MoU and the estimated funds allocated/ proposed thereunder?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) & (b): An MoU on Mental Health has been signed between Department of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of India and the Department of Health and Human Services of the Government of United States of America on 21st February, 2020 with the objective to develop further cooperation in the field of mental health for their reciprocal and mutual benefit.
(c): The areas of collaboration agreed upon in the MoU include:
i. Existing systems of mental healthcare;
ii. Statutory frameworks governing mental healthcare;
iii. Suicide prevention measures;
iv. Shortages of human resources for mental healthcare across the life span;
v. Early detection and management of depression;
vi. The role of traditional Indian systems like Yoga;
vii. Dementia;
viii. Addiction; and
ix. Short term training of non-specialists in the field of mental health.
There is no allocation of funds under the MoU.
……………………