T’puram: A team of high court judges led by Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Basant Balaji on Saturday conducted an inspection of Govt Mental Health Centre (MHC) at Oolampara, Peroorkada, to assess the facilities and amenities available for patients as part of the judiciary’s continuing efforts to improve conditions at the state’s premier psychiatric institution.The judges visited various wards, interacted with hospital authorities, and examined the infrastructure, patient care facilities, sanitation, medical services and rehabilitation measures. They also reviewed the living conditions of inmates and the amenities available for long-term patients, particularly those lodged in forensic wards.Health officials accompanying the judges informed them about infrastructure deficiencies, shortage of staff to look after the patients and lack of patient amenities.A major focus of the inspection was the plight of inmates who continue to remain in the institution despite being declared fit for discharge. Many such patients have spent years in the hospital because their families cannot be traced or are unwilling to take them back, delaying their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.The visit assumes significance as the Oolampara centre has remained under high court’s scrutiny since 2022 after reports highlighted overcrowding, inadequate infrastructure, shortage of staff and poor living conditions. Acting on these concerns, the court had directed the Thiruvananthapuram district judge, who heads the hospital’s monitoring committee, to conduct inspections and submit reports on the institution’s functioning. Earlier observations had flagged poorly ventilated wards, patients sleeping on bare floors and inadequate medical and support staff.The inspection forms part of the court’s ongoing monitoring of improvements undertaken by state govt and its efforts to ensure compliance with the provisions of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, which guarantees persons with mental illness the right to dignified treatment and quality healthcare.The Oolampara centre, Kerala’s oldest and one of its largest psychiatric hospitals, caters to patients from across the state and also houses forensic psychiatric patients referred by courts and prisons.Judicial interventions over the past few years have resulted in measures to improve infrastructure, augment staffing, and expedite the rehabilitation of recovered patients. Hospital authorities are expected to submit follow-up reports on the observations made during the inspection.
