Tribune News Service
Archit Watts
Muktsar, July 20
A 50-bed rehabilitation centre set up for addicts at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore on 3.5 acres at Thehri village in 2015 has failed to serve its purpose.
The data procured from the health authorities reveal that just 43 addicts were admitted here in 2023. Moreover, only 13 addicts have come here till June-end this year. At present, only three persons are admitted at the centre, said an official of the Health Department.
The centre has one counsellor, three staff nurses, three Class IV employees and some sweepers. The post of centre incharge, which should be held by a doctor, is vacant.
The basic purpose of the centre is to counsel drug addicts. However, it is just proving to be a “white elephant”, if one goes by the number of persons admitted here.
A doctor, on the condition of anonymity, said, “The rehabilitation programme takes one to three months and the addicts these days are getting medication from the outpatient opioid assisted treatment (OOAT) clinics. They are unwilling to spend so much time here. Further, there is no medical officer posted at the rehabilitation centre. This centre is located away from Malout town, which is also an issue.”
Meanwhile, another doctor said there were around 40,000 addicts registered at the OOAT clinics and private de-addiction centres in the district. However, Dr Sunil Bansal, Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Civil Hospital, Malout, said, “I look after the administrative part of the rehabilitation centre and things are good. The patients are looked after by my Gidderbaha counterpart. At present, three patients are admitted at this centre.”
Dr Rashmi Chawla, SMO, Civil Hospital, Gidderbaha, said, “We are trying our best. Earlier, two addicts were admitted here, but I sent one more addict last week and now three addicts are admitted at the centre.”
#Muktsar
