30K patients registered with de-addiction clinics in a month

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 4

A month after the Punjab Government made mandatory to register the patients online under the central registry system for private drug de-addiction clinics, as many as 30, 000 new patients have been registered in 30 days. 

In fact, the Health Department had asked all private de-addiction centers, approved by the state government, to register their patients on the online portal so that the one patient does not get the same medication from multiple sources.

According to the available record, on September 15, a total of 41,559 patients visited the OPDs of de-addiction centers and Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics in the state. On October 15, the number crossed the 71, 290 mark. 

According to the state Health Department, 97 private clinics have registered 28, 185 new patients in the past one month

Sukminder Kaur, project director, OOAT clinics, said, “The increase has been witnessed due to the inclusion of private drug de-addiction centers in central registry system last month.”

The Punjab Government had launched its biggest health programme against drug addiction in October 2017. A total of 147 OOAT clinics came up in the state and 51, 198 patients have been availing medical services at these clinics since its inception in 2017.

The Inspector General of Police (IG), AS Rai, however, said, “The Punjab Police have been taking stringent action against the drug peddlers. Cops will continue to do so in the coming days with the same intensity. Due to the breakage of the supply, a large number of patients are visiting de-addiction centers.”

Experts say the steep increase in the numbers of patients is being witnessed due to drug-related deaths, which were reported a few months ago from the state. It has created fear among addicts, leading them to the OOATs.

Anandpur Sahib MP Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, said, “The increase in the number of patients makes it obvious that the drug menace still exists. Moreover, the CM himself has said that there has been a constant supply from the Pakistan border.”