Thiruvananthapuram: The State Human Rights Commission has directed the health department to issue comprehensive guidelines within two months to address the difficulties faced by parents who bring children with autism to hospitals.Commission chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas issued the directive to the principal secretary of the health department, stressing that the complaint received by the commission in this regard was serious and required urgent attention. The order also directed the department to constitute a joint committee of senior officials from the health and family welfare and social justice departments to hold discussions and gather suggestions before framing the guidelines.The commission observed that parents accompanying children with autism face considerable difficulties while accessing healthcare services and that effective measures were needed to ensure their rights and dignity. The social justice department has already submitted several recommendations to the health department. These include ensuring free treatment close to home for persons with disabilities within the prescribed income limit, barrier-free access to hospitals and priority in medical treatment.The department has also recommended reserving special wards for persons with intellectual disabilities when hospitalisation is required. The commission directed the health department to strictly implement the social justice department’s July 19, 2022 circular, which exempts persons with disabilities from standing in queues at public institutions and govt offices.The commission further recommended launching an Integrated Rehabilitation Village project for the comprehensive rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. The principal secretary of the health department and the additional director of the social justice department have been directed to submit separate reports on the action taken on the commission’s recommendations.The commission initiated the proceedings based on a complaint filed by the mother of a child with autism.
