Srinagar, 28 Oct(KNS): The first, Mid Year Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society(MIDCIPS 2023) was inaugurated today by Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Sh. Arun Kumar Mehta, IAS, at SKICC Cheshma-Shahi Srinagar. Prof (Dr)Parvaiz A Koul, Director SKIMS & EOSG and Principal SKIMS Medical College Srinagar, Prof(Dr) Irfan Robbani were the Guests of honour of today’s occasion.
The meeting was presided by Dr Vinay Kumar President, Indian Psychiatric Society also shared his vision for Indian Psychiatric Society. Dr Laxmikant Rathi, Vice president appreciated the contribution of organizing committee for holding the event in such a manner in testing times besides Dr Arabinda Brahma, Hony General Secretary IPS, Dr O P Singh, Dr Aleem Siddiqui, Dr N M Patil, CME Chairperson of IPS, Dr. Mamta Sood, Dr Naresh Nebinani and Dr Arshid Hussain also graced the inaugural ceremony as special invitees.
The MIDCIPS is jointly organized by Departments of Psychiatry, SKIMS Srinagar, GMC Srinagar, and Jammu with the support of Indian Psychiatric Society North Zone and JK Psychiatric Society.
The Theme of the conference is ‘TREATMENT ADHERENCE IN PSYCHIATRY’, which discusses long term treatments and its perception of getting dependent on these medications subsequently leading to non-compliance and poor prognosis. The Organizing Chairperson for the dual events are Dr. Mohammad Maqbool and Organizing Secretary Dr. Abdul Majid.
On this occasion, Chief Secretary Sh. Arun Kumar Ji in his inaugural address emphasized the need for being future ready to provide healthcare services in the remotest areas of the country. For the same,he stated, that we should promote Digital mental health. He also highlighted the achievements of J&K Government being the leader in digital health of country. With regard to Psychiatry, he emphasized the need to remove stigma and addressing another challenge in the form of drug addiction and strategies to tackle it to make the region drug free. The Chief Secretary also gave a very lucid outline of the government commitment; as well as stressed the need for experts gathered to update policy makers about policies in mental health in J&K, as an outcome of the conference.
The MIDCIPS has gathered renowned psychiatrists from all over the country, and some international faculty too, who are going to deliberate the importance of treatment adherence and use of artificial intelligence and technology in improving the treatment outcome. On the occasion a book titled “Specific Learning disorders’ edited by Dr Alka Subramaniyam and Dr Vijay John Sagar with contribution from Dr Savita Malhotra, Dr Sandeep Grover, Dr. Jahnavi Kedare and other authors was also released. A souvenir of ACIPSNZ & MIDCIPS 2023 was also released.
It is pertinent to Mention that on 27th October, 48th Annual Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society North Zone was organized with the theme of Prevention of Self Harm- Multi disciplinary approach.
In both the events, faculty of national and international repute deliberated upon various aspects of Treatment adherence and self harming behaviors which are major issues to be addressed by the mental health professionals across globe for betterment of the population in general and psychiatric patients in particular. Young researchers presented their work during the free paper and poster presentations. More than 400 delegates across India and some from abroad participated in the event.
At the end of Inaugural ceremony, organizing secretary, Prof. Abdul Majid, thanked all the Revered Chief Guest, other guests, faculty, delegates and residents of departments of Psychiatry & support staff for making the event a successful one.(KNS).