Description

Medical Superintendent
Government Hospital for Mental Care
Chinnawaltair, Vishakapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh.
Pin Code: 500 023
ANDHARA PRADESH


17.729449907163673 83.33318173885345

Government Hospital For Mental Care
Chinna Waltair, Pedda Waltair
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
0891 275 4918

Mental Hospital, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh[37B33D]

Government Hospital For Mental Care, Vishakapatnam

Table 2. Bed strength, average occupancy and budget allocation of medium size (250 to
<500 beds) mental hospitals (figures for 1996)

Name Year Bed Average Budget
established strength Occupancy (in Lakhs)

GMH Vishakapatnam 1863 300 NA 125


(Established 1863, current hospital built 1871, bed capacity 300)

NHRC/NIMHANS 1999 report: The overall condition of the wards is
grossly inadequate. The wards are not cleaned regularly, have a dirty smell
and are full of cobwebs. The few bed sheets that are in use are not clean
and most patients do not have any sheets and blankets either to cover
the bed or themselves. Due to overcrowding many patients sleep on the
floor. The wards are full of mosquitoes….About one third of patients are
locked up in cells and each cell has at least 3-4 patients. Food is of very
poor quality. The kitchen is in bad shape and needs renovation. There are
no recreational facilities. Patients are not allowed to go out either to
exercise or to play games because the administration is afraid of patients
escaping. There is no occupational therapy section and no efforts made
to rehabilitate the patients.

Earlier rating: Poor

Interim Observations: The DGHS report (Agarwal 2004) reported that
little information was received from the state in several aspects. It however
commends the state for taking the lead in rationalising the infrastructure at
the mental hospital in Vishakapatnam. “In an innovative and bold step, the
Government, vide G.O. Ms No 336, dated 29.8.2001, has drawn up a
well thought out plan to dispose off the surplus land available to the
mental hospital as well as the Chest and I.D. Hospital and utilise the
sale proceeds thereof to build a modern multi-specialty institute along
with a new Hospital for Mental Care. This momentous initiative could
become a model for other states which have large, unmaintainable mental
hospitals which can be similarly streamlined, downsized and rationalized”.

NHRC/SHRC visits in the last decade: 1

Specific Recommendations and Action taken

Domains Suggestions of the Reported status
NHRC/NIMHANS as in 2008
Report 1999

Infrastructure Abolition of cell wards, New hospital construc-
demolition of dilapidated ted with incorporation of
wards, construction of all suggested changes
new wards with not more including decreased
than 20 in-patients per number of beds per ward
ward

Repair of roads and New hospital construc-
provision of adequate ted with incorporation of
street lights. Improve all suggested changes
communication facilities
between wards, OPD,
administrative building,
lab, duty doctor room,
nursing staff

Amenities and Better amenities are Seating capacity in OPD
facilities needed in the outpatient- increased, PVC molded
larger hall, adequate chairs and steel benches
setting, fans and lights, in OPD along with ceiling
toilets. Improve availabi- fans, wall fans, toilets,
lity of drinking water, ligh- cool drinking water
ting, laundry and toilet facility, consul-tation
facilities for inpatients. rooms increased from 3
to 12
Communication facilities
between the wards and
different parts of the
hospital

Financial Insufficient funds Budget sufficiently enha-
nced with expenditure for
2007-08 plan (Rs
81,16,862 and non-plan
Rs 2,34,19,257)

Diet/Kitchen 3000 calories per patient Diet cost per patient
as diet with specifica- enhanced from Rs.20 to
tions for cutlery and Rs.28
dining area.

Ward facilities Grossly inadequate. Many new wards and
improved amenities

Budget allocated for
Deaddiction, occupa-
tional therapy and OPD
block

Investigations/ Only direct ECTs being Full time anaesthetist
Treatment administered. available. 98% of ECTs
modified. Upgradation of
diagnostic, therapeutic
and testing facilities in
process improved

Supply position of drugs
by the APHMHIDC has
improved

Staff and Fill up all vacancies with Proposals submitted to
training special emphasis on State Government for
appointment of 5 psy- appointment of psychiat-
chiatric social workers, 5 ric social workers, clinical
clinical psychologists psychologists
and 5 psychiatric nurses
for psychosocial care Psychiatric nursing trai-
ning required

Six MD Psychiatry seats
sanctioned vide GO Ms
No 14, HM&FW
21.1.2002. Presently
waiting MCI clearance

Supportive Separate MRD, radiolo- Case sheets have been
Services gical services computerised

Recreational facilities, TVs in all the wards with
Occupational therapy, Dish TV. Mini library for
day care, patients. New training
and rehabilitation centre
for the mentally ill has
been set up.

Occupational therapy
facilities available

Manovikas, a training and
rehabilitation centre
started in August 2007

Others Separate facility for No information provided
children

Hospital Report update: As per the report of the report furnished by the
hospital, there are major infrastructural changes. There is presently no
overcrowding and bed occupancy as on 1 April 2008 was 266. All cells
have been abolished. There are 189 toilets (1:1.6). The open wards have
been increased from 2 to 4. There are however 220 closed ward beds
compared to 80 open ward beds. Thus of a total of 3198 admissions in
the previous year, only about 40% of admissions occurred in the open
wards. There are 10 patients with a stay over one year. Many of the long-
stay patients have been sent to their homes or to State managed NGO
homes. As observed in the earlier report, about 5% of admissions occur
through the courts. The hospital was sanctioned Rs 3 crore by the
Government of India in addition to funds sanctioned by the Government
of Andhra Pradesh for strengthening of the hospital. The following
proposals have been sent to the State Government: for construction of
staff quarters in the hospital premises, special recruitment of vacant posts,
starting of psychiatric nursing courses in Government nursing colleges
through the NTR University of Health Sciences. The hospital is keen that
a government order be made to retain the vacant land in the premises of
the hospital (which originally belonged to the hospital) for further
development of the hospital.

Different parts of the hospital are well connected through telephone. There
is a postgraduate library with a computer and internet connection. The
hospital has community outreach activities, with visits to Prema Samajam, Mother Teresa Home and the Central Prison. The DMHP is being carried
out in Vizianagaram district.

A complaint was made by Mr Umamaheshwara Rao, Vijayawada to the
NHRC New Delhi against the conditions of the mental hospital. The
Director of Medical Education, AP visited the hospital on 8-6-2008 as per
the directive of the Principal Secretary to Government. The hospital has a
board for disability certification. The hospital has constituted a Hospital
Development Society with the District Collector as chairman and medical
professionals, self help groups, people’s representatives, principal of the
medical college, executive engineer, APHMIDC, RMO, MP, social workers
and ex-students of the hospital as members. It does not have a functioning
Board of Visitors.