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ACT IX OF 2019 ACT IX OF 2019 BALOCHISTAN MENTAL HEALTH ACT, 2019 An Act to consolidate, alter and amend the law relating to the mentally disordered persons in Balochistan, with respect to their care, treatment and management of their property and other related matters [Gazette of Balochistan Extraordinary, 25th October, 2019] No. PAB/Legis; V (04)/2019, dated 25.10.2019.---The Balochistan Mental Bill No. 04 of 2019 having been passed by the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan on 12th October, 2019 and assented to by the Governor Balochistan, on 24th October, 2019 is hereby published as an Act of the Balochistan Provincial Assembly. Preamble.---WHEREAS, it is expedient to consolidate, alter and amend the law relating to the treatment and care of mentally disordered persons in Balochistan, to make better provisions for their care, treatment, management of properties and affairs and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto and to encourage community care of such mentally disordered persons and further to provide for the promotion of mental health and prevention of mental disorder; AND WHEREAS in pursuance of the eighteenth amendment to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, the subject matter has been devolved to the provinces, therefore; It is hereby enacted as follows:- CHAPTER - X PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES 56. Specialized Psychiatric Treatments.---(1) Specialized psychiatric treatment may be carried out with the informed consent of the patient, on the orders in writing by the psychiatrist in charge of the treatment of the patient or his relative or guardian, if the patient is a minor. (2) All electro-convulsive treatment shall preferably be administered under general anesthesia. (3) All electro-convulsive treatments shall be advised by a psychiatrist, in charge of the patient, recording the reasons for such advice and stating the reasons as to why the alternative available methods of treatment are not appropriate. (4) Administration of long acting anti-psychotic depot injections shall only be carried out upon the advice of a psychiatrist for a period as specified in the prescription and such cases shall be reviewed periodically. (5) No person shall advise and carry out psychosurgery or make any decision to carry out psychosurgery, except in cases where it is decided to be necessary and appropriate in a meeting in this regard, attended by a neurosurgeon, a neurophysician, a physician, two approved psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist. (6) Non-doctors and any person not licensed/registered with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council shall not prescribe any psychotropic medication to patients. Guilty found shall be punished/fined as prescribed by Law.