A committee in the “National” continues to discuss the draft mental health law

The Health and Environmental Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council, during its remote meeting chaired by the Second Deputy Chairman and Chair of the Committee, Naema Abdullah Al-Sharhan, continued to discuss a draft federal law in the matter of mental health, with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Health and Community Protection.

The members of the committee participated in the meeting: Sumaya Abdullah Al-Suwaidi, the rapporteur of the committee, Ahmed Bushehab Al-Suwaidi, Shatha Saeed Alai Al-Naqbi, Azra Hassan bin Rakkad, Muhammad Ahmad Al-Yamahi, and Dr..

The Ministry of Health and Community Protection also participated in: Dr. Abdel Nasser bin Salem, an expert on health legislation, Dr. Amna Turki, Director of Al-Amal Hospital, Dr. Mona Al-Kuwari, Director of the Specialized Care Department, and Dr. Lubna Ali Al-Shaali, Director of the Public Health Policy Department.

Naameh Al-Sharhan said that the committee continued discussing the articles of a federal bill in the matter of mental health with representatives of the Ministry of Health and Community Protection, and the amendments agreed upon by the committee were agreed, and the committee will continue its meetings with government representatives to discuss all articles of the draft law, which consists of 58 articles, and then The final report on it will be prepared and submitted to the Presidency of the Council for discussion in one of the next sessions.

She explained that the draft law defined the concept of mental health as a state of psychological and social stability, through which the individual can achieve his goals according to his personal capabilities, and deal with life pressures and work, produce and contribute to society, while the draft law clarified the term psychological disorder as a disorder of thinking or Mood, behavior, perception, memory, or other mental abilities, some or all of them, provided that this leads to a defect in the social, functional or educational functions or psychological suffering of the person, and these disorders are classified according to the classifications of psychiatry recognized by the specialized international organizations and bodies. Also, a psychopath is someone who suffers from a mental disorder.

Naameh Al-Sharhan indicated that the draft law stressed that it is not permissible to provide mental health services without obtaining a license from the health authority in accordance with the conditions and controls specified by the executive regulations of this law, and the mental health facility must keep a special record for registering mental patients, and the executive regulations specify the data that It must be listed on the registry and how long it is kept.

It stated that the draft law also specified the conditions for compulsory admission to treatment in a psychiatric facility, so that compulsory admission for a psychiatric patient to a mental health facility may only take place after verifying that there are clear indications that he has a severe mental disorder that poses a danger to him or others, and that his admission is necessary for his recovery. Or to stop the deterioration of his health. The admission of the psychiatric patient is mandatory for treatment by a decision of two psychiatrists, one of them in the same mental health facility, and the period of compulsory treatment is determined according to the state of health of the psychiatric patient, and the compulsory admission to treatment is terminated by a decision of the treating physician, unless it is deposited by a decision from the Public Prosecution or under a ruling or A decision from the competent court.

She explained that the minor psychiatric patient, according to the draft law, is surrounded by special health guarantees that take into account his age group and his psychological state, and the executive regulations of this law specify those guarantees and controls regarding the compulsory admission of the minor psychiatric patient..

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