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Patients of the Vanadzor neurological and psychiatric clinic have complained to rights activist organization on cases of beatings and tortures against them in the institution.

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During meetings with the Helsinki Civil Assembly Vanadzor office representatives in the clinic, the patients getting treatment of mental disorders have pointed to the misbehavior of male nurses and sanitary personnel including a disregard and inhuman attitude to them.
  Analyzing the problems indicated in the survey report the organization has recently sent the document to the Ministry of Healthcare. The latter has suggested that the head of Lori province administration examine the raised problems and find solutions to them.
  The clinic provides treatment for the Lori province’s some 5,000 patients outside the clinic. Its psychiatric department has 24 patients. They are watched by 2 persons, a nurse and a sanitary. In total the hospital has 44 personnel. (their minimal salary ranges from 60,000-70,000; $200-$230).
  The survey has reflected on a range of problems from the utility services of the clinic to the treatment of patients.
  One patient complained of beatings. Characterizing the sanitary personnel and medical staff patients had told of a number of cases when a group of the clinic workers had attacked them, threw them on the floor and kicked them.
  The report says the most aggressive patients are fastened to beds with sheets for 24 hours.
  Tranquilizers used to calm down the patients with most severe disorders are frequently abused and applied for longer periods [that prescribed].
  Senior psychiatrist of the Lori province and the director of the clinic Gayane Kalantaryan does not accept the observations of the organization.
  She says when a patient is aggressive he or she is fastened to bed upon the doctor’s prescription.
  “It may take 10-15 minutes, not 24 hours as the report says,” says Kalantaryan mentioning fastening patients with mental disorder to beds for 24 hours is unacceptable and may be fatal.
  “If the patient is irritated and needs to be calmed down by holding him up on his feet and hands to inject a medicine, does it mean he undergoes tortures?! Isn’t it a help?” the personnel supports Kalantaryan.
  Patients also complained that privileges such as taking walks or having radios have been abused. They also say that they are not fed properly.
  Zhanna has been in the clinic for the last three years. She is 25, and was diagnosed as schizophrenic 10 years ago.
  Zhanna does not speak much, but she says she does not complain of the doctors as they treat her well. Despite she did not say she was hungry, she told that her diet for the day was pasta and two slices of bread for breakfast, a cup of coffee, and pea and past soup with cabbage salad for dinner. Supper in the clinic is usually a bun and a cup of tea that the patients say is mostly colorless.
  Zhanna can’t recall the last time she ate meat products or fruit. Kalantaryan says they have no problem of cheese “we have cheese all the year round”, while Zhanna never did recall cheese in her menu.
  The relatives of a mentally diseased 29 year old Manvel who is regularly treated in the hospital said that that they are generally satisfied with the conditions in the hospital. The relatives of another woman, who is suffering schizophrenia, said that woman while being at home sometimes was aggressive and they (relatives) also were forced to fasten her hands to the bed. They added they are not happy with that but realize that it is the only way to calm her down.
  The Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly says there is no food ratio developed for people suffering mental disorders.
  The daily food expenses per patient do not exceed 500 drams (abut $1.50).
  “We naturally try to secure calories in the diet, but we also take the budget into account,” says Kalantaryan. The annual budget of the clinic is about 47 million drams (about $15,,000) with 70 percent of it spent on the administration and the rest on food and maintenance expenses. Kalantaryan says they are trying to adopt the meal to the minimum calories, but at the same time they have to do it with the amount they have, which is not enough.
  Kalantaryan disagrees also with the observations on the utility services.
  “Here there are patients treated from acute disorders who can harm themselves and others,” therefore there are no chairs and tables in the rooms, nor towels, in the bathrooms.
  Kalantaryan says the neurological and psychiatric clinic still works based on Soviet criteria, when patients are frequently deprived of this or that means to provide their safety.
  The report mentions Armenian legislation lacks mechanisms to provide implementation of the UN 1991 Resolution No. 46/119 on the improvement of psychiatric help and security of people suffering from mental disorders.
  Artur Sakunts, the head of the organization mentions a new comprehensive policy should be developed to solve these problems.
  “Besides hospital treatments there should be also a rehabilitation center, where mentally diseased people could continue their treatment.”
  http://www.armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&IID=1197&CID=3090&AID=3226&lng=eng
  By Naira Bulghadaryan
ArmeniaNow Vanadzor reporter