Torture common at private rehab centres, says report

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 26

Inmates at private rehabilitation centres in the state are forcibly kept there and beaten up regularly. This has come out in a report prepared by the Health Department after surprise inspections of several private centres in Mohali, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana and Patiala.

The report also talks about many drug de-addiction centres becoming a sale point for Addnok-buprenorphine, used as a substitute treatment for opiate addiction and commonly used by addicts. It is common knowledge that addicts in Punjab are now hooked on to buprenorphine.

There are 16 private drug de-addiction centres and 69 private rehabilitation centres in the state.

The report highlighted that during the inspection of Dr Tejinder Singh Sidhu’s de-addiction centre in Mohali, discrepancies related to drug dispensing were found. Addnok — a medicine that treats withdrawal symptoms, and commonly misused by addicts — was given on a large scale to addicts.

It observed, “The de-addiction centre is nothing, but a sale point for Addnok. Addicts are given four to eight strips of Addnok twice a month without following guidelines.”

At another centre in Mohali — Ekam Foundation — it was found that inmates were confined to a basement and often beaten up. Besides, inmates complained they were not given food regularly. The medical inspection of inmates revealed that most of them were suffering from scabies. “Human rights are being violated in the centre,” the report said.

As per the de-addiction protocols, only those join rehabilitation centres who have detoxified after the treatment. They walk into the centre of their own accord. Contrary to this, the centres have become “torture centres” and youths are kept there forcibly.

At another centre — Guru Kirpa Foundation in Ludhiana — 50 inmates were found there against the sanctioned strength of just 15. Later, the centre’s licence was suspended.

At Freedom Foundation, Kurali, 48 inmates were admitted when the centre was inspected against the strength of 75. There were only four washrooms for 48 inmates!

As per the report, Kamboj Multi-Specialty Hospital in Kharar offered drug de-addiction services, but without a psychiatrist.

Sources said the licences of several centres had been suspended.

Sources in the Health Department said inspections at drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in Patiala, Ropar and Fatehgarh Sahib brought out one common complaint of inmates: centre managers beat them up regularly.

Dr HS Bali, Director, Health Services, could not be contacted in spite of repeated attempts.