33 brain health clinics to be launched across state today

BENGALURU: is set to launch the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (KaBHI) across the state on Monday, in what health department officials describe as a path-breaking move.
Under the ambitious programme, 33 brain health clinics will be established, including three in Bengaluru Urban, offering treatment for common neurological problems such as stroke, epilepsy, dementia and headaches.
“People from BPL families having these conditions can now avail free treatment at the district level,” said Dr Rajani Parthasarathy, deputy director of mental health at the department of health and family welfare.
Each brain health clinic will be staffed with a multidisciplinary care team comprising a physician, physiotherapist, speech therapist, psychologist, nurse, and district coordinator. The initiative is being launched with technical support from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans). “Both APL and BPL individuals can access these clinics. While BPL patients will be receiving free treatment, APL patients will be required to pay a nominal hospital service charge ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 50. Medicines will be procured and provided by the clinics,” health commissioner D Randeep told TOI.
Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar will launch the initiative at Nimhans at 3 pm.
The initiative, with a budget of Rs 25 crore, aims to address the shortage of neurologists by training doctors with a general medicine background. “These clinics have nothing to do with mental health,” Randeep clarified, adding that they do not offer counselling services.