A DILEMMA OF MENTAL HEALTH IN PAKISTAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61506/01.00327Keywords:
mental health, legislative frameworkAbstract
Continued efforts to create suitable mental health legislation in Pakistan resulted in the Mental Health Ordinance of 2001. However, following the 18th amendment to the constitution and the devolution of health responsibilities to provincial governments, it became the responsibility of each province to enact its own mental health laws through their respective assemblies. Currently, the mental health legislative landscape is fragmented and inadequate. Only the provinces of Sindh and Punjab have enacted mental health acts, highlighting an urgent need for similar legislative frameworks in other provinces to protect the rights of individuals with mental illness.
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