Chandigarh: Haryana has introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework covering six categories of mental health establishments, including standalone mental health establishments, psychiatric departments of medical colleges, psychiatric wards of multi-specialty hospitals, de-addiction centres, centres for psychosocial rehabilitation and other institutions. It brings their registration, staffing, patient safety, treatment records, and institutional accountability under prescribed standards.
Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Sumita Misra, said here on Wednesday that the Mental Healthcare (State Mental Health Authority) Regulations, 2026, notified by the state Health Department on October 9 under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, establish a framework for regulating mental healthcare institutions across the state.
The regulations prescribe a Rs. 25,000 fee for permanent registration, require documentary evidence of compliance with minimum standards, and introduce provisions on professional qualifications, patients’ rights, medical records, physical restraint, privacy, hygiene, fire safety, and accessibility.
A significant provision concerns the use of physical restraint on patients undergoing mental healthcare. The regulations require institutions to minimise restraint, train staff in alternative crisis management methods, and document when physical restraint is necessary.
Institutions subject to the reporting requirement must submit monthly restraint reports to their respective District Mental Health Review Board within the first week of the following month.
The Haryana SEWA Department, via a September 18 communication referring to a September 9 directive from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, asked district authorities to expedite registration of existing Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts and De-addiction Centres not registered with the State Mental Health Authority.
