Indian Pharmaceutical Association, IPA, Bihar State Branch urges the president of pharmacy council of India to submit a convincing representation to the Union Ministry to include Pharmacists in the Tele Mental Health Program.
Union Budget 2022 focused on strengthening the delivery of mental health services through the roll out of a National Tele Mental Health Programme. As per the Finance Minister, the program will be launched to Improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services which will consist of digital registries of health providers and health facilities, Unique health Identity, consent framework and Universal access to health facilities through a network of 23 tele mental health centers.
IPA, Bihar state branch said, "This is an Important step In the right direction, but the execution of the program successfully requires the creation of a huge skilled manpower base that are well-versed with the technology to run 24/7 helpline and train counselors to identify people with mental problems who need to be referred to mental health centers. The number of specialized and general health workers dealing with mental health is grossly insufficient in our country. On average, there is one psychiatrist to serve 200000 or more people. In most of the states, other mental healthcare providers who are trained in the use of psychosocial Interventions are even scarcer."
R. Bandyopadhyay, secretary of IPA, Bihar state branch said in a notification that Pharmacists are ideally positioned to address the gaps. As experts in Pharmacotherapy, pharmacists can provide complementary skills, knowledge and attitudes to other healthcare professionals within a multidisciplinary team. Specifically, pharmacists may contribute to healthcare teams by detecting; helping to ensure the safe and efficacious use of medicines; providing comprehensive drug Information to patients and other healthcare professionals; and promoting medication adherence."
IPA Bihar State Branch requests PCI president to submit a convincing representation to the Union Ministry to include Pharmacists In the Tele Mental Health Program.
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