Secretary Health reviews functioning of private Drug De-Addiction, Rehabilitation Centers

JAMMU, January 17: Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Bhupinder Kumar, today reviewed functioning of private Drug De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centers operating across J&K.

The meeting had detailed discussion on several significant issues concerning the working of these centers including assessment and licensing for existing private drug de-addiction centers.

It was informed that in view of serious challenges posed by the menace of drug abuse, intensified campaign of “Nasha Mukht Abhiyaan” has been launched to effectively deal with the emerging issue. The measures required to deal with the alarming situations included preventive, curative and rehabilitative aspects. The UT Government has already adopted drug de-addiction policy which calls on for collective action by different departments to tackle drug abuse.

Recently, Health and Medical Education Department has also issued Standard Operating Procedures for setting up of Drug de-addiction centers which provides uniform guidelines on setting up of such centers.

The issues with regard to intensive information, education and communication especially among youths, adults and professionals under “Nasha Mukht Bharat” were also discussed.

Reviewing various aspects of Drug de-addiction and rehabilitation, Secretary directed for Constitution of District Level drug de-addiction monitoring committee with immediate effect. He asked for conducting periodical meetings for regular monitoring and inspections of Drug de-addiction centers. He said that the findings and recommendations of the district level committees should be invariably be shared with Divisional Level Drug de-addiction centers monitoring committee.

Secretary asked the officers for putting in place an online mechanism for  patient registration duly linked with Unique Identification numbers (UID), “Aadhaar” both for public and private Drug de-addiction centers as well as chemist shops and connecting them with the supervisory agencies to prevent pilferage and misuse of Narcotic Medicines.

The meeting was attended by Principals of GMCs, Directors of Health Services, Additional Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, Joint Director, Planning besides HODs of Psychiatric Department of GMCs among other officers of Health and Medical Education Department.