Baba Farid University still to take charge of de-addiction centre

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 12

The building for the new drug de-addiction centre under the supervision of Baba Farid University of Health Science, Faridkot, has been built while its charge is still to be handed over to Baba Farid University.

The district health authorities are supposed to hand over the charge to Baba Farid University that will operate the de-addiction centre after recruiting the staff in collaboration with Government Medical College and Instutute, Faridkot.

With the capacity of 30 beds, the centre that would be run by Baba Farid University Faridkot.

Situated adjacent to 25-bed government-run de-addiction center, the new centre would cater to patients with minimal charges.

Twenty five-bed hospital on the premises of the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, is a joint venture of the Civil Hospital and the Red Cross. It was established in February 2002. It is presently working on financial aid from the Guru Gobind Singh Refinery. It’s running on its own with the money collected from patients by charging Rs 200 per head. A bit of funds are also provided by the Bathinda refinery. Earlier, there were two psychiatrists, including Dr Indiver Kalra and Dr Nidhi Gupta. But as of now, only one psychiatrist is left after Dr Indiver Kalra had resigned from his post. This centre, however, would now be merged into the 30-bedded new de-addiction center build adjacent to it.

Notably, that there are two more de-addiction centers in Bathinda district, including one in Talwandi Sabo subdivision and another in Rampura subdivision of Bathinda. But both have been left in lurch after three out of four psychiatrists had left the job in Bathinda districts following their transfers.

The government would provide us with para-medical staff, including nurses and councillors whereas two psychiatrists, including assistant professor and senior resident would be provided by the Baba Farid University and Faridkot Medical College and Institute.

Civil Surgeon, Bathinda, Dr Tejwant Singh Randhawa, said, “The new center for de-addiction here in the hospital had completed its construction only in December and would be handed over soon to the Baba Farid University whereas the de-addiction centre already being run in Bathinda district hospital would be merged into it. Thus the total capacity of the de-addiction centre would be more than 50 patients. The para-medical staff would be given by us but as we are facing shortage of psychiatrists, it would be provided by the Baba Farid University itself.”