Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra
Agra, a city of TAJ, is an ancient and historical town. A prestigious institute of Agra, the Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra, then known as Agra Lunatic Asylum, was established in September 1859 governed by the State of Uttar Pradesh.
It is spread over on extensive and beautiful ground of 172.8 acres land and is well known center for the treatment, training and research on mental disorders in Northern India.
The institute was renamed as Mental Hospital, Agra in 1925. It was being managed under the provisions of Indian Lunacy Act, 1912 till 1993. Presently all admissions and discharges are being done under the provisions of Mental Health Act, 1987.
Following a public writ, Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the Year 1994, renamed the Institution as Agra Mansik Arogyashala, made it an autonomous institution and outlined the objectives to improve treatment and care of mentally ill persons including rehabilitation as well as to develop activities for professional teaching, training and research.
In compliance of the order of Hon’ble Supreme Court, the U.P.Govt. declared Mental Hospital, Agra as an autonomous institution on 31.01.1995. In view of the objectives laid down by the Hon’ble Court, it was renamed as Institute of Mental Health and Hospital on Feb., 8, 2001.
Lunatic asylums were established by the British in Indian based on the fact that the care of the insane was the responsibility of the Crown. The first asylum was established in 1745 in Bombay , followed by Calcutta in 1784 . There were a few asylums until 1857, which mostly existed in the major cities of Calcutta, Bombay ,and Madras. The growth of lunatic asylums was facilitated by the enactment of the Indian Lunatic Asylum Act, 1858. The Act set up guidelines for the establishment of lunatic asylums as well as the procedures for the admission of lunatics. The Agra Asylum came into existence in 1859. The Agra Asylums was transformed into Mental Hospital, Agar in 1925.
Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra [formerly Mental Hospital, Agra] is an autonomous body created under the directives of Hon’ble Supreme Court in 1994 with following objectives:
- Diagnostic and therapeutic facilities for mental patients.
- Social and occupational rehabilitation of mental patients.
- Professional and paraprofessional training in the field of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, Psychiatric Social Work and Psychiatric Nursing.
- Expansion of mental health services at community level by providing training to medical and para medical personnel in the field and
- Research in behavioral sciences.
- It was notified in the extra –ordinary Gazette by Government of U.P. and duly registered as Society in 1996 under Societies Registration Act, 1860.
The institute is spread over 172.84 acres of land of which 33 acres is farm land. Part of the farm land is within the boundary wall housing the patient’s wards and the rest of it is outside the boundary.
In yester year’s farm land was being irrigated with a canal system, the water supply from canal stopped due to some or other reason making the harvest difficult, now it is being maintained by submersible pumps and modern implements.
The funds for strengthening of Mental Health Institute was released vide order of Ministry of Health and family welfare, Govt. of India N0-T.21013/81/03-NCD/PH (pt) dated 30.3.07. However, the details of projects were not provided with sanction letter.
Hence, the institute requested Ministry of Health & family welfare, Govt. of India for details of the projects vide letter no-Dir/07/1866 dated 26.6.07, 2273 dated 18.5.07, 2562 dated 01.6.07 and 2952 dated 25.6.07. Details of the projects were provided by Ministry of Health, Govt. of India on 27.6.07 vide letter no 560/2007/CMO (JK) dated 26.6.07.
Thereafter, the project started with effect from 18.8.2007 after obtaining necessary approval from competent authorities.
The institute has sanctioned bed strength of 718 patients, 543 male and 175 female. There are 30 wards including paying and non paying. For intensive care and management of physically ill psychiatric patients, there are two infirmaries one each in male and female section.
Two new wards have been created in the institute, i.e. family ward and short stay ward.
In family ward patients are admitted along with their family members so as the patients may be treated in the family environment.
The short stay ward extends the services to acutely disturbed psychiatric patients coming to the institute after OPD hours.
Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra is a registered autonomous body under the Society Registration Act. The controlling department is Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of U.P.. Director of the institute is the Chief Executive Officer. Additional Director, Medical Superintendent and Finance Officer assist in his day to day functioning. Besides this, the officers are given additional charge of different units to assist the Director. The Commissioner, Agra Division is the chairman of Managing Committee and Principal Secretary to the State of U.P. Health and Family Welfare is vice chairman. Various regular and adhoc Sub-committees give input to management committee. The management committee and sub committee meet regularly to discuss and resolve the developmental plans and various administrative and policy matters.
| 1. | Commissioner, Agra Division, Agra |
Chairman |
| 2. | Principal Secretary to the State Govt., Health and Family Welfare, U.P. |
Vice-Chairman |
| 3. | District Magistrate, Agra | Member |
| 4. | Senior Superintendent of Police, Agra | Member |
| 5. | Principal/Vice Chancellor, K.G. Medical University, Lucknow
|
Member |
| 6. | Director, Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra
|
Member Secretary |
| 7. | Director, Medical Care, U.P. Health Services, Lucknow
|
Member |
| 8. | Additional Director
Medical, Health and Family Welfare, |
Member |
| 9. | Dr. Rati Homi Khambata
Rtd. Associate Professor, M.L.B. Medical College, Jhansi |
Non Official Member |
| 10. | Dr. Anil Kumar Agrawal
Rtd., HOD, Department of Psychiatry, K.G.M.U, Lucknow |
Non Official Member |
MD - Psychiatry
M. D. in Psychiatry is a Clinical Speciality course.
Doctor of Medicine in Psychiatry explores the major psychiatric syndromes like psychotic, mood and anxiety disorders, psychological effects of physical diseases, the doctor-patient relationship, human development, patient interviewing, and ethical issues in medicine. It is a three-year postgraduation course and can be pursued by any MBBS holders from a University recognized by Medical council of India. Most psychiatrists practice general psychiatry. Sub-specialization in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, and Geriatric psychiatry can be conducted after M. D. in Psychiatry.
- Log in to post comments
- 161 views