THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even after six years of the Mental Health Protection Act, Kerala has not even prepared a draft of the standards regarding the quality and operation of the institutions. Because of this, no mental health centre in the state has permanent registration with the Mental Health Authority.

144 institutions in Kerala have taken provisional registration. Out of this, only Alappuzha Medical College has been registered from the government sector. This registration is of no use as there are no guidelines on hospital management standards.

According to the Mental Health Care Act, of 2017, institutions including those in the government sector that treat mentally ill patients must be registered with the Mental Health Authority. De-addiction centres and mental rehabilitation centres must also have registration. Patients are living in unhygienic conditions in most mental health and de-addiction centres in the state. Patients are even subjected to physical torture in some institutions. However, legal action can be taken against this only after the guidelines regarding the conditions for running the institution come into force.

Meanwhile, the government does not have an accurate count of mental health centres and drug addiction treatment centres. It is also alleged that there are many illegal centres in the state in the name of de-addiction.

Once the guidelines are in place

1. Treatment facilities in mental health and drug addiction centres will improve

2. The standard of physical conditions of institutions will rise

3. Patients will get better service.

4. Safety of patients will be ensured