The Karnataka state government on Friday opened a brain health clinic at Jayanagar Government Hospital under its Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (KaBHI), which is the first-of-its kind in the country.

The goal is to train Primary Health Care ( PHC) doctors to diagnose and provide primary care for illnesses affecting the brain and mental health, such as stroke, epilepsy, Parkinsons, brain tumours, and dementia, as well as to train the  Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) staff to conduct mental health screenings.

The health and medical education minister Mr. K Sudhakar said that patients with common neurological illnesses will be followed up on at the brain health clinic, which will act as a nodal centre. These centers have trained 100 doctors at PHCs with Nimhans assistance. Unless there is a need for tertiary treatment, people do not necessarily need to travel all the way to Nimhans. He emphasized that incorrect assumptions, taboos, and stigma surrounding mental health must be abandoned.

The Center has not only praised Karnataka for its innovative concept; it has also adopted it nationwide through its "Tele-Manas" project, which is based on the e-Manas platform of Karnataka. 9,030 patients, 259 mental health experts, and 153 mental health facilities have all registered on e-Manas.

(ETHealthWorld, July 23, 2022)