Dulali’s death sparks call for mental health reform

The death of a woman with severe mental health difficulties after being denied treatment at multiple hospitals has sparked calls for reforms to Bangladesh’s mental health system.

The issue was discussed at a consultation in Dhaka organised by the Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation and Heroes for All, said a press release.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Participants called for a “Treat First, Identify Later” emergency protocol and expanded mental health services, saying no one should be denied care because of homelessness, poverty or a lack of identity documents.

Mental health rights activist Musa Karim Ripon had campaigned for treatment for the woman, Dulali, who died on May 31.

Dr Zia Uddin Hyder, special assistant to the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on health affairs, attended the event as the chief guest. Among others present were Professor Dr Pravath Chandra Biswas, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS); health economist Professor Dr Syed Abdul Hamid; Dhaka University faculty psychologist Professor Dr Mahjabeen Haque; Dr Ishakul Kabir, programme officer for NCD and Mental Health at the World Health Organization (WHO); and Advocate Khondoker Shahriar Shakir of Bangladesh Supreme Court.