Following inmates’ deaths, 2 de-addiction centres shut

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 26

Following the death of inmates of de-addiction centres, the Himachal Pradesh State Mental Health Authority (HPSMHA) today ordered the closure of two de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in Kasauli subdivision of Parwanoo in Solan district.

Two deaths were reported in three months, one each in Nimarata Foundation and Nav Jyoti Foundation, following which an inquiry was ordered. The inspection teams found deficiencies and grave lapse at the centres. The explanations of the managements of both the centres were rejected by the competent authority (ACS health cum chairman HPSHMA).

The district inspection team also pointed out deficiencies in the patient care and the minimum standards of service. The provisional registrations of both the centres have been withdrawn with immediate effect, said Chief Executive Officer HPSMHA Dr Sanjay Pathak.

Anurag Jain (38), a resident of Ludhiana, died in Nimarata Foundation on July 5 while Sunny (35), a resident of Taran Taran died on May 3 in Nav Jyoti Foundation. Sources revealed that one of the patients was not examined by the medical officer. The centres were charging money for the services that were not provided to the patients. Reports of running de-addiction centres in two rooms in Una, physical assaults on patients and locking them without medicine during withdrawal period have poured in. All such centres will be closed after reports of the district inspection teams are received, Pathak added.

“We have given a proposal to set up a model de-addiction and rehabilitation centre in government sector in Himachal which will act as a role model for centre in private sector,” he said.

There are 68 de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in the state, most of which are in Una and Solan districts and many are not adhering to the minimum standards prescribed by the HPSMHA.

People, especially from Punjab, have opened rehabilitation centres in border districts. Most patients in these rehabs are also from Punjab and there have been cases of mismanagement in the past too.