BackThe Human Rights Defender welcomes the steps of the Minister of Healthcare in the field of psychiatric establishments.
The Ministry of Healthcare has approved an action plan to eliminate the violations presented in the Defender’s ad hoc public report concerning psychiatric establishments.
In particular, the Minister of Healthcare informed the Human Rights Defender, that:
- A new awareness raising leaflet on the rights of persons in psychiatric establishments has been approved;
- A number of draft laws have been developed related to the psychiatric care and service order of the legally incapable person, the cooperation with legal bodies and so on;
- Awareness-raising on the benefits and functions of the psychiatrist's profession was carried out to fill open vacancies;
- in a number of psychiatric establishments ongoing repair work were carried out, beds, household goods, furniture, linen, measures of physical restraints, hygienic and other necessary supplies were obtained.
The Human Rights Defender attaches great importance to the steps taken by the Minister of Healthcare to eliminate the issues presented in the report. The Defender will continue to take consistent steps contributing to resolution of these issues.
The Human Rights Defender's Office detected gross violations in psychiatric establishments during unannounced visits made in 2017. In particular, cases of the use of constraint measures without legal basis, expired medications, improper management of record-books on medication control and exemption. Violations have also been reported in connection with the provision of adequate food, the lack of the unanimity of the laboratory examinations and other issues. The report indicates the lack of proper supervision system and lack of clear functional distinction between the bodies of the field.
In addition, a criminal case has been initiated by the Investigative Committee based on the issue with regard to the provision of paid services in psychiatric establishments recorded by the Human Rights Defender’s Office.
Source: Office of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Armenia
