Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
Q4. “Mental healthcare in India has moved from an institution-based approach towards a rights-based framework, but access remains deeply unequal.” Examine the implementation gaps and suggest measures to ensure equitable access to mental healthcare. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: NIE
Why the question
India’s rights-based mental-health framework has translated into accessible and equitable care for all sections of society.
Key demand of the question
Explain the transition from institutional control to a rights-based approach. Identify implementation deficiencies and suggest measures for equitable access to mental healthcare.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction
Introduce mental healthcare as part of the right to life with dignity and briefly locate the shift within the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
Body
- Rights-based transition: Indicate how the current framework recognises autonomy, dignity, non-discrimination and access to community-based care for persons with mental illness.
- Implementation gaps: Highlight deficiencies in funding, trained personnel, district-level services, regulatory institutions, insurance coverage and awareness that produce unequal access.
- Measures for equitable access: Suggest stronger primary-care integration, workforce expansion, effective review bodies, financial protection and blended community-based and digital services.
Conclusion
Conclude that statutory rights must be supported by adequate institutions and last-mile services to make mental healthcare genuinely universal.
