MED Express: Catering to mental health
Even in our modern world, psychiatric illness remains a taboo subject. Many are unaware of it; others tend to ignore or ridicule the sufferers. This lack of awareness has created a situation in which even the most mild cases of mental illness that can be managed effectively with medication and psychological interventions are ignored due to social stigma and left to worsen into chronic disabilities and at times, premature death.
The MED Express team
Often in the desperate situation of a psychiatric patient having a complete mental breakdown and exhibiting agitated, aggressive and violent behaviour, family members or guardians of the patient are unable to cope. Often a problem faced by many is how to safely transport the patient to hospital. MED Express is an ambulance service that caters to this specific need; the transportation of psychiatric patients to relevant hospitals/rehabilitation institutions.
The company that first ventured into the scene in 2005 has since handled many cases and helped save many lives. While providing an invaluable service for all those in need it is the psychiatric patients, drug addicts and alcoholics who have become their main priority. “There is no other ambulance service that provides this facility,” said Managing Director of MED Express Niranjan Kalupahana. Transporting a psychiatric patient involves complicated procedures that at times includes the police as well as more skill and precision than in a case of a normal patient, he added.
Although Colombo based, the company extends its services all over Sri Lanka. “Depending on how severe the case is we visit the patient with a team of four to five trained individuals and safely transport the patient to whatever institution requested by the guardians,” explains Mr. Kalupahana. “When patients are violent and aggressive it is very difficult to approach them because they often tend to turn on those near them. So people are reluctant to go near the patient. MED Express has experienced and trained people who are well equipped to handle such a situation,” he added.
The service has been recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health- Angoda , Mana Suwa Niwasa- Park Road and other certified psychiatrists. Any one in need of MED Express’s services may contact them directly on 0773104244/ 0771088962/ 0772020342 or through a psychiatric consultant.
While their charges are reasonable, they often face instances where they feel they cannot charge the full sum from those in difficult circumstances. “We would much appreciate it if the government could support us in providing this service. Also if Non Governmental Organisations or other well-wishers too could make monetary or other donations such as more ambulances it would help us to provide an even better service for an easier price for those most in need of our help” Mr. Kalupahana said.
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