Aiming to humanise the treatment of mental illnesses, government has drafted a new Bill which proposes to ban electro convulsive treatment for minors as also its use directly in adults. The bill recommended its use only in rare cases and that too under general anaesthesia.
It also proposes grant of medical insurance for patients who till now are not covered for insurance.
The new Mental Healthcare Bill – 2012 prepared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and cleared by Health
Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is ready to be sent to the Cabinet before being introduced in Parliament.