Dehradun: The latest report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, released during the ongoing Uttarakhand assembly budget session, revealed concerning trends in the care of mental health patients in the state’s healthcare facilities (HCFs). Auditors found that 12 out of 21 inspected HCFs lacked 100 per cent mandatory psychotherapeutic drugs.
In Nainital district hospital, none of the 19 essential medicines mandated by the health ministry at the district level were available. Similarly, all 14 mandatory psychotropic drugs were absent in 11 sub-district hospitals, community and primary health centers. Senior psychiatrists at govt mental health facilities observed that this is occurring when the state is showing an upward trend in the number of mental health patients.
Dehradun district hospital had only 10 out of the 19 required medicines, while lower-tier facilities fared worse. Sahaspur’s community health center stocked just three essential drugs, and Premnagar’s sub-district hospital had only two. Six other healthcare centers below the district level had barely a single drug as against the mandated 14 drugs.
The CAG flagged deficiencies in the implementation of the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), stressing the need for improved drug availability. Financial data revealed that between 2016 and 2022, only 55.44 per cent of the allocated budget for mental health programs in the state was utilised. Despite budget provisions of Rs 369 lakh, only Rs 205 lakh was spent.
An abnormally high hike in the expenditure for mental health patients was incurred during 2018-19 and 2021-22. “During the years 2016-17 and 2020-21, the expenditure remained 19.46 per cent and 19.14 per cent respectively. However, NHM spent 128.35 per cent during the years 2018-19 and 2021-22 respectively,” the report pointed out.
CAG authorities added, “Increase in utilisation of the funds during the year 2021-22 indicates progress in the implementation of the scheme. The matter was reported to the state govt in Sept 2023 but no reply has been received.”
