Shafquat Inayat.
Mental Health Issues and Relevant Legislation in a Developing Country.
Pak J Public Health Jan ;7(2):122-6.

Mental health legislation compiles and integrates fundamental doctrine, principles, goals, objectives and mental health policy. This legislation is required to assure that the self-respect and the dignity of patients is conserved and that their fundamental rights are protected. This article considers legislation in the Indo-Pak subcontinent, especially the Mental Health Act in Pakistan, and asserts that the act has limitation that serve as a barrier to mental health services currently provided in Pakistan. The purpose of this article is to identify the mental health legislation in a developing country like Pakistan. It also emphasizes the need of a modern mental health law that provides priority to protect the rights of patient with mental disorder to promote development of community based care and improves its access

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com