GOVERNMENT OF
JAMMU & KASHMIR / DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON COLLABORATION
BETWEEN
THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS
And
THE HEALTH&MEDICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, JAMMU & KASHMIR /

Whereas the Royal College of Psychiatrists (hereinafter referred to as “the College”) is a registered charity in the United Kingdom, with the following objectives:

-  to advance the science and practice of psychiatry and related subjects;

-  to further public education therein; and

-  to promote study and research work in psychiatry and all sciences and disciplines connected with the understanding and treatment of mental disorders in all its forms and aspects and related subjects and publish the results of all such study and research.

Whereas the Health & Medical Education Department Jammu & Kashmir requested advice and cooperation in achieving the following main objectives.

·  Capacity building in primary care to deliver quality mental health across the Kashmir Division

·  Enhance accessibility of mental health care to rural areas

·  Provide good quality secondary care and advice to primary care

·  Use of mhGAP as one of the tools for capacity building

·  Use of principles of psychological first aid as appropriate

·  Enhance public education on mental health to combat stigma against mental health

·  Advocacy and respect for rights of patients with mental illness

·  Intersectoral collaborations to enhance mental wellbeing

·  Develop training in mental health at primary and social care level

·  Mental Health training to providers of education and social work

·  Ensure high quality supervision, monitoring and evaluation of all mental health care

Whereas the College and Health Services Department, Kashmir wish to cooperate in their respective fields of mutual interest;

Now therefore, the parties hereto agree to sign a general framework agreement on collaboration, subject to specific annexes, which will permit the exchange of research, experience and the organisation of joint activities, in close collaboration, pursuant to the following fundamental objectives:

1.  To establish close collaboration in all relevant fields through the South Asian International Division of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

2.  To enable the exchange of information between both institutions in all areas relating to psychiatric training and teaching activities.

3.  To promote joint research projects in areas relevant to psychiatry. In particular in Perinatal mental health, treatments for Depression and the mental health of refugees and veterans.

4.  To promote parity for mental health care and an understanding of the effect of social determinants on mental health.

5.  To develop joint publications and support the exchange of publications (bulletins, journals, books, CPD online) between both professional institutions, with special emphasis being placed on the establishment of a direct relationship between their web sites, thus permitting, by means of specific agreements, the distribution of training materials and public education materials of mutual interest to both institutions into the corresponding languages.

6.  To study the viability of establishing assistance to professionals who wish to undertake periods of training in either of the countries that are the object of this agreement.

7.  To study ways of working together that will lead to greater participation for both bodies in other psychiatric institutions worldwide.

8.  To establish all measures with respect to support and exchange that may assist the institutions in fulfilling their statutory objectives with more ease.

9.  Exchanging trainees and consultants through the volunteer scheme

10.  Collaborating and exchanging expertise in initiatives to balance patients’ and carers’ rights for care and treatment

11.  To share experience in raising understanding of advocacy about mental health with our respective governments.

12.  To this framework, agreement on collaboration, specific annexes will be added that, referring always to this text signed today set down and develop some of the aspects to which the established objectives refer.

13.  Translations of relevant fact sheets and information regarding patient related educational materials and pamphlets into local languages will be carried out with due acknowledgement and referral

Financial Liability

No financial liability will arise for the College or for the Health Services Department, Kashmir under this Agreement.

Term

This Agreement remains valid for a term of 5 years subject to periodic reviews. The agreement may be terminated by either party at any time before the end of the term, subject to three months’ prior written notice and the settlement of any outstanding obligations. This Agreement supersedes any previous agreements between the College and the Health Services Department, Kashmir.

Dispute Settlement

Any dispute relating to the interpretation or application of the Agreement shall, unless amicably settled, be subject to conciliation. In the event of failure of the latter, the dispute shall be settled by arbitration. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the modalities to be agreed upon by the Parties, or in the absence of agreement with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules currently in force at the signing of this Agreement. The Parties shall accept the arbitral award as final.

In witness thereof, both parties sign the following agreement.

MR Gazanfar Hussain
Commissioner/Secretary
Health& Medical Education Department Jammu & Kashmir / Professor Sue Bailey
President
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Date signed: / Place: