The third annual national conference of Indian Association of Private Psychiatry (IAPP), which concluded here on Sunday, has demanded amendments in the Mental Health Act. The conference has decided to submit a memorandum to the Government for timely amendment of the psychiatry law.

Doctors from all over the country who participated in the three-day conference were of the view that the new Act would put privet psychiatry in a difficult situation. They pointed out that special efforts should be taken to protect the interests of psychiatrists who are now expanding their activities to areas like community psychiatry, rehabilitation programme and de-addiction campaigns.

The experts also discussed various aspects of psychiatry, like selection of psychotropic drugs in special population, ethical issues, research and the role of pharmaceutical companies. Tele-psychiatry was pointed out by some as a possibility in the future.

Justice Chettoor Sankaran Nair had said, while inaugurating the theme session that the law should not create division between treatment in Government and privet hospitals.

Dr. Kuruvilla Thomas joint secretary of the organising committee said that even though Kerala has sufficient facilities for rehabilitation and treatment, psychiatric patients wandering on the streets were not brought to the hospitals. The National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the State Mental Health authority against the move to close down some of the hospitals in the State, he said.

While inaugurating the conference, Health Minister P Sankaran promised Rs 3.25 crore to improve the conditions in the Government Mental Health Hospitals and Rs 20 lakh to upgrade the State Mental Health Authority.

"The Government is taking steps to control and streamline mental health service, and will introduce mental treatment in taluk hospitals. All the illegal and inhuman activities done in the name of mental treatment will strongly be dealt with," he said in his inaugural address.

Prof. K V Thomas, Minister for Tourism and Fisheries, inaugurated the scientific session of the conference. He emphasized the need for implementing a curriculum, which incorporates topics like mental health and family relations.