Lone psychiatrist carries forward state govt’s drive against drug de-addiction

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 21

The state government’s war against drugs and move to provide best-in class drug de-addiction services to drug addicts, especially youngsters does not seems to be on the right track.

Dr Vivek Goel is a lone psychiatrist at the Civil Hospital. To make the matters worse, event the responsibility of the Out-Patient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) has been handed over to him and on any given day, he examines more than 100 patients.

Earlier, the Civil Hospital was a ten-bedded hospital. Later, the government converted the Sarai at the hospital into the Navjeevan Kender (Drug de-addiction centre) to assist addicted youngsters.

However, the Health Department has failed to depute an additional doctor or staff at the Civil Hospital.

At present, drug addicts are not being admitted and they have to come every day to take medicine which is being rovided free of cost.

Dr Goel said, “At present, I am looking after psychiatry, in-house and OOAT clinic at the Civil Hospital. The OOAT clinic was opened on November 1 and from then I am handling the clinic.”

He said, “In a single day, I examine nearly 80-100 patients. There is no replacement and when I am on leave, the SMO imparts duty to medical officer to look after the psychiatry ward.”

A patient who is undergoing treatment at the OOAT clinic said, “I daily visit clinic for taking medicine. I have to devote my whole day for visitng the doctor.”