Fountain House Peshawar would be developed as state of the art mental health institution

Prof. Dr. Imran Khan, President Pakistan Psychiatric Society (PPS), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a leading psychiatrist hoped that Fountain House Peshawar (FHP) as constituent institute of Khyber Medical University (KMU) Peshawar, would be developed as state of the art mental health institution of the region in terms of knowledge and research.  He expressed these views while representing the Pakistan Psychiatric Society at a high-level meeting regarding FHP at KMU. Besides eminent psychologists of LRH, KTH, HMC, FHP and KIMS Kohat, Vice Chancellor KMU, Prof. Dr. Zia-ul-Haq  former Vice Chancellors Prof. Dr. Muhammad Daud Khan, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Hafizullah, Registrar  KMU Prof. Dr. Saleem Gandapur,  Prof. Mukhtiar ul Haq general secretary PPS KP chapter and Dr. Muslim Khan project director FHP also attended the meeting.

Prof. Dr. Imran Khan informed the participants that FHP will soon become a constituent part of KMU which would be run in collaboration with the provincial government. He said that the KMU-FHP platform will help in the promotion of Global Mental Health as well as special focus on the scholarship and research in the field of mental health and behavioral sciences.

 Prof. Dr. Mukhtarul Haq, General Secretary, PPS KP, said that the provision of state-of-the-art clinical care facilities for the province with 250 beds in FHP would also be ensured. A clinic and rehabilitation unit will soon be set up here under the auspices of FHP to treat and rehabilitate drug addicts as well as to make drug addicts useful citizens of the society.

Prof.  Dr. Zia-ul-Haq, Vice-Chancellor, KMU  shared  that under the Institute KMU will offer a wide-ranging portfolio of academic programs including Bachelor of Science in Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences, Certificate, diploma, and Master programs in mental health, Masters/MPhil in Global Mental Health, Masters/MPhil in clinical research, MCPS/FCPS/MD and PhD in mental health. Additionally, the institution will offer a comprehensive continuous professional development program to all cadres of health providers involved in imparting mental health services in the province.

 He said that it is noteworthy that the provision of medical care in FHP will be funded by the Department of Health while KMU will responsible for providing rehabilitation services for drug addicts in addition to academics, clinical and labs services.

Earlier in the meeting, Prof. Dr. Nusrat Hussain, Director Research, Global Mental Health University of Manchester, UK, via video link said that FHP's affiliation with KMU would open new avenues for knowledge and research in the field of mental health. He described the decision as a step in the right direction and hoped that it would soon have far-reaching effects on the mental health sector. #