Dhaka, Sept 18 (UNB) - A bill titled ‘Mental Health Bill 2018’ was placed in Parliament on Tuesday for making a time-befitting law in Bangla version scrapping the exiting Lunacy Act 1912.   Health Minister Mohammad Nasim placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee for further examination. The Committee was asked to submit its report within 15 days.       According to the draft bill, if any professional engaged in mental health service intentionally provides false report over mental illness, the person will be punished with a fine of maximum Tk 3 lakh or one year’s rigorous imprisonment or by both.   The bill also incorporated another punitive provision for guardians and doctors in case of their negligence in providing treatment to mental health patients and management of his property.   If any guardian or doctor neglects the treatment of mental health patients or management of his property or does not implement any order of the court, s/he will be punished with a fine of maximum Tk five lakh or three years’ rigorous imprisonment or both.   In the bill, the government has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting, coordinating, regulating and improving all the activities related to mental health.  

Dhaka, Sept 18 (UNB) - A bill titled ‘Mental Health Bill 2018’ was placed in Parliament on Tuesday for making a time-befitting law in Bangla version scrapping the exiting Lunacy Act 1912.
 
Health Minister Mohammad Nasim placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee for further examination. The Committee was asked to submit its report within 15 days.    
 
According to the draft bill, if any professional engaged in mental health service intentionally provides false report over mental illness, the person will be punished with a fine of maximum Tk 3 lakh or one year’s rigorous imprisonment or by both.
 
The bill also incorporated another punitive provision for guardians and doctors in case of their negligence in providing treatment to mental health patients and management of his property.
 
If any guardian or doctor neglects the treatment of mental health patients or management of his property or does not implement any order of the court, s/he will be punished with a fine of maximum Tk five lakh or three years’ rigorous imprisonment or both.
 
In the bill, the government has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting, coordinating, regulating and improving all the activities related to mental health.