The Directorate of Social Change and Mental Health Services have established a Mental Health Tribunal to cater for mental health patients to attend court cases.
The Mental Health Tribunal will support the people of Papua New Guinea to be a nation of mentally healthy individual. It is guided under Section 27 of the mental health Act 2015.
According to the chairperson of the Mental health tribunal, Dessie Kaputin Magaru, the role and purpose of the tribunal is to ensure that patients are provided with quality mental health services by ensuring the following are achieved;
Review and investigate matters relating to admission, treatment, leave, discharge and continue treatment of patients and consumers
Investigate complaints and grievances of patients or consumers, their next of kin, visitors and staff and report back to the Directorate of Social Change and Mental Health Services Board.
Mrs Magaru said “The tribunal is accountable for maintaining its roles and functions at all times as prescribes in the Mental Health Act 2015, as a viable and diligent tribunal.”
She highlighted the tribunal members comprises of a chairperson whom should be a senior magistrate or a judge, two psychiatrist, a member knowledgeable in clinical psychology or occupational therapy, social work officers, a lawyer, a member of the disciplinary force and a community representative.
She further said, “The tribunal shall furnish to the Health Minister, through the Directorates Board with reports of the tribunal’s progress.”
