Covert medication – Multiple situations, varied options

Mental health interventions in low and middle income countries, with limited resources of human and other resources, requires that they be viewed from multiple viewpoints. This applies to the issue of covert medication, which on the face should not be practiced at all, in an ideal care situation. In India, it would be better to consider the use of covert medication, in differing situations and with the varying levels of involvement of patients and their families in a planned manner and with an open approach. Such an approach could meet the care needs of patients as well as protect the rights of the patients.