New mental health care procedure takes effect July 1

From July 1, a new procedure will govern medical care for mental and behavioral disorders. Reports across major outlets note the change in policy and its implications. The Ministry of Health approved the new rules under Order No. 668n. According to a representative from the ministry, the aim is to weave psychiatric care more tightly into the general health system and to make services easier to access for the public. The plan introduces a modular approach to organization, allowing existing services to be reconfigured without overhauling the entire system. Local clinics can create primary care offices or departments focused on mental health, while somatopsychiatry units can be established within multidisciplinary hospitals. If needed, offices with a specific nosology orientation will be opened, covering areas such as suicide prevention and geriatric care.