Officials acknowledge plight of Hyderabad mental facility

SHRC urges multi-sectoral action as abandoned
patients and resource gaps strain Sindh’s largest
mental health facility

HYDERABAD: During a high-level visit to Sindh’s largest mental health facility in Hyderabad -- Sir Cowasji Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry -- officials acknowledged major gaps in psychiatric staffing and patient rehabilitation as well as security concerns.

Medical Superintendent Dr Nisar Ahmed Soho flagged the growing burden of long-recovered but abandoned patients, while Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Chairperson Iqbal Ahmed Detho called for introducing multi-agency coordination and rights-based reforms to ensure continued care and dignity for the province’s mentally ill population.

MS Dr Soho highlighted the plight of the abandoned long-recovered patients, particularly elderly men and women, who are reportedly left behind due to lack of guardianship. He also raised concerns over critical shortages of trained psychiatric personnel and overstretched hospital resources.

He emphasised the pressing need for enhancing security measures, including shift-based police deployment, and called for strategic interventions to manage the 50-acre facility, which serves as a lifeline for Sindh’s mentally ill population.

Recognising mental health as a shared societal responsibility, SHRC Chairperson Detho underscored the importance of institutional coordination in protecting the rights and dignity of individuals with mental illnesses. He stressed initiation of integrated mechanisms involving all relevant departments to ensure continuity of care, patient rehabilitation, and dignity-based support.

He also proposed the formation of a dedicated committee to address long-standing management and integration challenges at the facility. Referring to the Sindh Senior Citizen Act 2014 (Amended 2023), which mandates the establishment of elderly care homes in each district, Mr Detho called for the expedited completion of the under-construction senior citizen facility in Hyderabad to accommodate recovered yet displaced elderly patients.

The SHRC chairperson expressed appreciation for the hospital’s introduction of music therapy, noting its positive impact on patients’ emotional, cognitive, and social well-being. He stressed the long-term inclusion of music therapy in treatment regimens, recommending collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism and other social platforms that promote music and artists.

The visit was conducted in collaboration with the district administration and representatives from key public departments, including Social Welfare, Women Development, Persons with Disabilities (department), NADRA, and district police, according to an official handout.

Report courtesy: Social Track, Karachi (June 27, 2025)