Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS) celebrated its 90th Foundation Day on Friday at the RINPAS academic centre. Several staffs and workers who have contributed for the betterment of the hospital were also felicitated by the hospital administrative body on the occasion.
Ranchi University Vice Chancellor Ramesh Kumar Pandey was present as the Chief Guest in the programme. Other eminent persons including Dr. A K Nag, Dr. Binay Kumar Sinku and Head Clinical Services, Nur Manzil Psychiatric Centre lucknow, Dr. Hemant Naidu were also present on the occasion. While discussing on the theme of the programme – ‘from mental asylums to modern psychiatry’, the speakers present in the event discussed about the transformation of RINPAS from a mental hospital to psychiatry centre.
According to Director of RINPAS, Dr Jayati Simlai the institute has come a long way setting several records and milestones. When Ranchi Mansik Arogyashala (RMA) became RINPAS in the year 1998 since then all the modern treatment approaches were implemented. Various treatment options such as Hydrotherapy, Insulin Coma therapy, Electroshock therapy and many others innovative therapies were introduced in the psychiatry for the first time. In India the centres which experimented with these innovative approaches were RMA and Central Institute of psychiatry (CIP).
However, the journey of the institute was both long and tedious, she said. “The matter of concern is that RINPAS has 500 beds but at any point of time we have 600 plus patients. The average Out Patient Department (OPD) attendance is approximately 350. We also provide special services in Ophthalmology, Dentistry and Physiotherapy. The attendance in the community clinics of Khunti, Saraikela and Hazaribagh is about 500,” mentioned Dr. Simlai.
“Apart from this RINPAS also runs District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) in Dumka, Gumla, Daltonganj and Jamshedpur. The institute manages the work load with the help of two consultants in Psychiatry, seven senior residents and three psychiatrists. There are certain vital issues which need to be rectified in the time to come,” Simali further added.
In various districts of Jharkhand RINPAS also conducts programmes on modern psychiatry. The institute too organizes free medical health camps and distributes free medicines in Khunti, Hazaribagh and Kharsawa. In order to provide better health care facilities to the people the institute moreover organizes free mental heath care and checkup facility under the government scheme of District mental health programme.
Addressing the gathering Ranchi University VC Ramesh Kumar Pandey also pointed out on some important issues which need to be discussed.
“We often find in the society that the respective guardians of mentally ill patients often hide the mental illness or any such symptoms. Proper treatment of any mental disease must be done on time. Awareness campaigns and proper training programme must be conducted in order to combat any psychiatric problems,” said Pandey.
A memoir was also unveiled on this occasion highlighting several fundamental concerns on the theme ‘From mental asylums to modern psychiatry’.