Leh, July 13: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri R. K. Mathur launched the Mental Health OPD and Telephonic Medical Consultation in district hospitals of Leh and Kargil through a digital opening ceremony at Raj Niwas.
Commissioner/ Secretary Health, Ladakh Rigzin Samphel, Director Heatlh, Ladakh Dr Phuntsog Angchok and Psychiatrist Dr Padma Angmo were present during the ceremony.
The Lt. Governor observed that there are a number of mental health issues in Ladakh including depression, drug addiction and suicides, as informed by Psychiatrist Dr Padma. He expressed the hope that these facilities will provide help and support to the people in treating various mental problems and especially COVID-19 related mental issues at this time. He stressed on the need to strengthen the psychiatry role in district hospitals and to have de-addiction centres in Leh and Kargil. He also enquired about the availability of Covid-19 testing capacity in Ladakh keeping in view the need for tourism.
In a short power point presentation, Director Health, Ladakh informed about the services to be provided in the mental health OPD that include general psychiatry, psychotherapy, behavioural therapy, child guidance clinic and de-addiction. The OPD days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., he added. Dr Angchuk said that the telephonic medical consultation OPD will be available at SNM Hospital, Leh from Tuesday to Saturday and at District Hospital Kargil from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. People can avail the telephonic consultation OPD services in Leh on the contact no. 01982-256907 and 01985-233255 for Kargil district hospital. A telephonic demonstration was also presented on the occasion.
He further apprised the LG about the procurement with the help of ICMR of one additional Covid-19 testing machine (RT – PCR) and an automatic RNA Extractor for Ladakh.
