ISLAMABAD: As many as 48,210 people with mental health issues received treatment at four government hospitals of the federal capital since Jan 1, 2016.

This information was provided on Wednesday by the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) while replying to a question from Senator Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini.

The ministry, in a written reply, informed the upper house that 15,961 people were treated at Capital Hospital, 14,433 at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, 11,816 at Polyclinic and 6,000 at National Institute of the Rehabilit ation Medicine.

It further informed the house that four seats of psychiatrists were vacant at Pims and one at Polyclinic.

Replying to a calling attention notice tabled by Senator retired Col Tahir Hussain Mashhad, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir informed the house that medicines for tuberculosis patients were available at the government outlets.

He said some unregistered medicines were not available in the market but government has nothing to do with them.