Protection of mental health patients' property proposed

A proposal requiring the protection of mental health patients' property was presented to lawmakers for discussion on Oct 23.

It is the third reading of the draft mental health law since it was first considered in October 2011.

The latest proposal has added new stipulations to promote mental-illness prevention and patient-rights protection, including highlighting the protection of mental patients' property, aside from the protection of personality, which was included in the last reading.

In addition, the draft requires all general hospitals to set up mental health specialist outpatient clinics or to provide psychological counseling service, a step to prevent illness and promote awareness of mental health.

China has 100 million people who suffer from mental disorders, and 16 million of them are serious mental disorder patients, according to statistics provided by the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

Hong Hu, duputy director of the NPC Law Committee, said that most general hospitals currently do not have mental health outpatient clinics, and the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders are weak, so it is necessary to reinforce the capability of doctors to diagnose and treat patients with mental disorders.