Annual Report - National Human Rights Commission

Annexure 8
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○
care where environmental injury has occurred. In short there is need for a public health
response to environmental health problems.
6. Access to essential medicines and rational therapeutics
The use of irrational and sometimes harmful, banned and bannable medicinal drugs and
preparations was raised as an issue of concern in Kerala. This problem exists in all states.
Recommendation 6
●
Rational drug policies, essential drug lists, standard treatment guidelines and formularies
need to be adopted in the public and private sector, and more importantly they should be
used and regularly updated.
●
Existing and new mechanisms for continuing education of medical practioners and allied
health professionals need to be actively used for this purpose.
●
Measures to increase consumer awareness and good pharmacy practice need to be widely
instituted.
7. Trauma care
This came up strongly from Kerala, but is applicable in all states.
Recommendation 7
●
With the rising number of traffic and other accidents early trauma care using standard
protocols need to be ensured through provision of infrastructure and training. Preventive
measures such as use of helmets and seat-belts should be mandatory.
8. Mental health
The following problems were experienced by groups working in the different states – lack of
access to mental health care by rural poor due to centralized mental health care available
mainly in city and town based institutions; stigma, discrimination and abuse; lack of medical and
health personnel with adequate training in mental health; non-availability of drugs; lack of public
awareness about mental health
Recommendation 8
●
Medical and psychosocial care and support for persons with mental illness should be
242
National Human Rights Commission Annual Report - 2004-2005
AR-Chapter-1-19-10-6-06.p65
262
7/17/06, 6:31 PM