Integrating mental health into primary care: the policy maker’s perspective and experience in China

Xin, Yu; Jin, Liu; Hong, Ma

A long-term bilateral developmental programme between the Egyptian government and the government of Finland initiated a Mental Health Programme in Egypt in 2002. Growing international interest and the World Health Organiz ation's declaration of the year 2001 as the Year of Mental Health helped to bring mental health to the forefront of healthcare. With so few mental health professionals working in the field, primary healthcare was recognised as a resource capable of delivering services in the community. The E gypt has a population of roughly 80 million, served by about 9000 psychiatric beds, 1000 psychiatrists (one psychiatrist per 80 000 citizens), 1900 psychiatric nurses and about 200 clinical psychologists (Okasha, 2004) . Service providers fall into three main sectors: public, private, and not-for-profit non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The public sector is managed essentially by the Ministry of Health and bears the brunt of service provision.