Kottayam, Aug 31: Kerala Irrigation Minister T M Jacob has stressed on the need to adopt measures to prevent exploitation of mentally challenged patients.
Inaugurating 19th annual state conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) here last night, he said mental health issues were being exploited in the name of religious customs and rituals.
In mental disorder cases, about 70 to 75 per cent of the patients could be cured completely, he said asking the IPS to discuss the penal provisions in Mental Health Act 1987 at its session to prevent exploitation of mental health issues.
Jacob said more investment was not possible in the health sector as the present level had reached the saturation point.
He also called upon voluntary agencies and psychiatric societies to come forward in the rehabilitation of cured mental patients.

Dr. P.M. Madhavan, the new president of IPS, in his presidential address, asked the government to introduce more teaching hours on psychiatry into the undergraduate medical curriculum and a separate examination on the subject.

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In his key-note address, Dr B Ekbal, Kerala University vice-chancellor, said psychiatrists should act as change agents in the society where "family suicides" were higher.

Mammen Mathew, editor, Malayala Manorama, released the souvenir of IPS.
Bureau Report