Syed Nasir Hussain, a Congress member of the Rajya Sabha, has called for the establishment of a branch of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Ballari.
Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Friday, he stated, “NIMHANS in Bengaluru is already overwhelmed. The World Health Organization recommends a doctor-patient ratio of 1:1000, but at NIMHANS, it is currently 1:1456.”
He further explained, “Ballari, located centrally, is easily accessible to several North Karnataka districts, including Koppal and Raichur. It is also close to the Bangalore-Hyderabad Economic Corridor. To ease the pressure on Bengaluru’s NIMHANS, a branch should be set up in Ballari.”
Hussain also highlighted the rise in mental health issues in the district, attributed to mining activities and socio-economic factors, contributing to an alarming increase in suicides. He urged that NIMHANS be established in Ballari to address this critical issue.