Initially the Psychiatric services in Civil Hospital, Gandhinagar were provided by two visiting psychiatrists from the area and thus the psychiatric OPD was run twice a week. However after the establishment of the GMERS Medical College, Gandhinagar and with the appointment of a full time Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry Department, regular psychiatric services and the department came into existence.
FACILITIES IN THE DEPARTMENT
With the establishment of the department, the following facilities have been made available:
Outdoor Patient Department (OPD) – Daily Monday – Friday 9.00am - 1.00pm & 3.00pm - 5.00pm Saturday – 9.00am -1.00pm
All patients of general psychiatry, child psychiatry, women’s mental health, geriatric psychiatry, psycho-sexual issues as well as de-addiction are seen in the OPD, interviewed, evaluated, diagnosed and treated with the wide range of psychiatric medications available in the hospital free of charge to the patients.
Mental Retardation (MR) Certification Facility is also available daily during OPD hours.
Indoor Patient Department (IPD) – For those patients requiring hospitalization in cases of psychiatric emergencies, self –harm or danger to the family and surroundings, suicidal patients, de-addiction purpose etc. an indoor facility with 5 male and 5 female beds are available in the Department.
Currently the therapeutic modalities used for treatment purpose includes Pharmacotherapy, Psychotherapy and Counseling.
Camps – Camps are organized about twice a month in the neighboring primary and community health care centers to address the needs of the local patients, create awareness about the psychiatric illness, reduce the stigma attached to it and thus providing appropriate psychiatric care.