A derelict half a century old mental health facility

Contractors face action for substandard work at Cowasgee Institute of Psychiatry

HYDERABAD:

More than one and a half century old mental health facility remains in shambles while the recent civil work for renovations and upgrades at the hospital has begun to tear apart.

On Wednesday the Hyderabad division's commissioner, Nadeemur Rehman Memon, visited Sir Cowasgee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in Hyderabad and asked the officials to take action against the contractors for their substandard works.

"The contracts of such contractors who fail to maintain standard and complete works in time should be cancelled," the commissioner said. "It's very strange to notice that the hospital's OPD is showing wear and tear after less than a year of its construction."

The commissioner directed action not only against the contractors but also against officers of the Buildings Department and other concerned officers who give clearance certificates to such contractors.

Memon directed the officials to speed up the beautification and renovation works in all wards of the hospital.

He told off the administration of the hospital on witnessing a lack of cleanliness in the OPD block. He asked the medical superintendent to ensure regular cleanliness and sanitation as well as proper functioning of the drainage system in all the wards and blocks.

Memon was informed that the drug addiction ward that was set up years ago is still dysfunctional. He asked the officials to immediately fix iron grills in the windows and doors of the ward.

An official of the health facility told The Express Tribune that the ward also has some structural flaws which were identified to the authorities more than a year ago. A patient took advantage of a window and escaped from the ward, which is not supposed to have the windows but only the ventilators.

"This ward was made to admit drug addicts to help them give up their addiction. However, it is currently being used for ordinary patients with mental health issues instead of the addicts," the official disclosed. The administration takes pride that the hospital, which was established in 1865, is the third largest mental health facility in Asia.

It is spread over 32 acres of land and consists of 13 wards. The officials informed that around 400 patients visit the OPD daily, claiming that they are provided free medicines as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2022.