Stakeholders discuss quality standards for mental health services
2025-08-28
KARACHI: The Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) has organised a consultative meeting to develop minimum service delivery standards (MSDS) for mental health services delivery across the province.
The session brought together a diverse group of stakeholders including officials of the Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMH A), leading experts from public and private teaching hospitals, academic institutions, representatives from the Department of Health, Anti-Narcotics Force and Social Welfare Department.
The programme was organised with support of the British Asian Trust and Taskeen health initiative.
The purpose of the meeting was to develop a standardised framework to ensure quality, accessible and ethical mental health care services delivery in health facilities of Sindh.
Dr Zainab Hasan of the SHCC shared the policy and legislative landscape for mental health in the country and province. She highlighted that mental health was governed by the Sindh Mental Health Act 2013 and the commission was responsible to register and licence the establishments for service delivery based on quality standards developed in consultation with stakeholders and notified by the government.
Dr Zafar Mehdi of the SMHA emphasised the need for all stakeholders and key responsible bodies to work together.
Special Secretary for Health Shadia Jaffer emphasised the need to publicise the interventions being done for improvement of mental health services in the province. She launched the Code of Conduct for Mental Health Professionals developed by Taskeen.
