DHAKA: The cabinet has approved the draft of Mental Health Act 2018 with provision of punishment to physicians for issuing false certificate on mental health. 

The approval was given in the weekly meeting of the cabinet held at Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Secretary of the Cabinet Division (Reform and Coordination) NM Zeaul Alam said the draft has been prepared amending and updating a 1912 law in the current context.

The law suggested providing caring services to the patients of mental health, protecting their rights including rights to wealth, rehabilitation and overall welfare.

The law also proposed rigorous punishment for provoking any mental patient to commit crime and stringent punishment for setting up and operating mental hospital without license.

According to the law, the government would carry out all activities for expansion, development, control and coordination of the services of the mental patients.

The government would provide long-term treatment of the mental patients and constitute a Mental Health Review Monitoring Committee to facilitate the aggrieved persons to get remedy.

The draft law provides for a fine of Taka 3 lakh or one year rigorous jail or both for a false certificate about the mental health of a person given by any mental health service provider.

BDST: 1911 HRS, JULY 16, 2018
AP/SMS