In a major stride towards strengthening mental health care provisions, the UAE Government launched an expansive Federal Law on Mental Health that carries harsh penalties for offenders.
The new legislation of UAE Government has very strict regulations and massive fines which make it a benchmark in line with the most advanced practices and advancements in mental healthcare.
It also protects psychiatric patients’ rights and ensures they get top-notch physical care as well as mental care.
The newly introduced Act by UAE Government is designed to achieve several objectives which are aimed at regulating the interrelations between psychiatrists and their patients.
Moreover, it gives priority to healthcare services delivered following the highest standards and best practices in mental health.
One of its main objectives is ensuring that human dignity rights are preserved for psychiatric patients thereby significantly reducing the negative effects of issues related to mental health on individuals, families, and communities as a whole.
Furthermore, it is targeted at enabling persons grappling with psychological health problems to integrate socially.
This revolutionary legislation covers all aspects of mental health including mental health cases, patients of psychopathology, psychiatric institutions, including those located in free zones within UAE.
It furthermore redefines what’s meant by a “mental health” or “psychiatry patients” in keeping with the latest trends and ideas about them within this sphere.
The law strictly forbids unlicensed provision of psychological services according to its clauses.
The patient rights are highlighted in this legislation. Mental rehab centers should provide full explanations about these rights to their clients.
Patients have right to address themselves while receiving essential cares as well as treatments under conditions not violating their civil liberties.
The legislations makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against workers based on their medical status and prohibits them from practicing any form of exploitation; whether emotional, physical or even sexual.
With that said, the Act necessitates that all patient information be kept confidential within a majority of these hospitals.
After discharge policies about taking care for both mentally ill persons and their carers are set out here.
This involves the process of medical insurance as per the existing law, making school and recreational opportunities easily accessible, and enabling patients to have advocates who can fight for their rights both within and outside such hospitals.
This law is a pillar of ensuring that established medical principles are promoted in access to psychotherapy and psychiatric medications.
It requires exhaustive explanations about clinical observations, treatment plans, associated risks, benefits, side effects and crisis interventions.
In addition, some provisions are specifically designed for minor psychiatric patients with special health guarantees considering their age and psychological condition.
These include educational rights, procedures protections guided by social workers or psychologists and separate accommodation from adult facilities. Since they are minors, their health interests should be put first.
Also, the legislation mandates the creation of specific supervisory committees in each emirate to protect the rights of psychiatric patients and monitor mental health facilities’ compliance.
These bodies will oversee reports from mental health institutions on patient admissions; monitor facility adherence to standards; review patient’s rights committee reports; handle complaints as well as objections.
The rights committee for patients within each emirate is responsible for defending these people’s entitlements in relation to mental illness as well as taking any necessary steps that arise out of these complaints that come up.
For instance, the Law distinguishes between types of admissions in mental health care institutions.
It provides voluntary admission and regulations regarding escape of patients or their death, cases of psychological restraint and transfer from one patient to another as well as scenarios for compulsory outpatient treatment.
The UAE’s first ever Federal Law on mental health is a landmark step towards modernizing mental health care services, advocating patient rights and improving quality standards across the nation.
It shows that the country is determined to embrace contemporary practices in mental healthcare, while at the same time preserving dignity, wellness and inclusion of persons coping with a range of psychiatric issues.
