Dist’s sole govt rehab centre faces staff crunch as admissions increase, ET HealthWorld
Ludhiana: With the Punjab govt struggling to tackle the drug menace, the number of patients admitted in the lone govt-run rehabilitation centre of the district in Jagraon last year has increased. However, the centre lacks proper staff.
According to data, there were 196 patients in the centre in 2024. Most of them were from Ludhiana and some were from Barnala, Moga, and surrounding areas.
Data of patients undergoing rehabilitation at the centre over the last four years suggests that the number of such patients was highest in 2024. In 2021, the number of persons who underwent rehabilitation was the lowest in four years, at 80.
Month-wise data of such patients since 2021 suggests that the number of patients in each month was highest in May last year, at 33. In 2022, there were no patients at the rehabilitation centre in Jan, Feb and March.
Ludhiana civil surgeon Dr Pradeep Kumar Mohindra said that the large number of patients admitted in the centre in 2024 could be attributed to the state govt endeavour to get maximum number of former addicts rehabilitated.
Sources in the health department said that the centre, which has an OOAT (Out Patient Opioid Assisted Treatment) centre on the premises, has not had a manager since Dec 31, 2023, after the last manager retired. They said that the manager oversees operations at the centre.
Sources added that a psychiatrist had been deputed at the centre but he also had other duties. They added that, against the requirement of around two counsellors to counsel patients at the rehabilitation and OOAT centre, there is only one counsellor.
Health department sources said that while there was adequate number of male staff nurses (4) at the centre, given the number of patients coming, one or two more such staff members were needed. They also said that there were two ward attendants against the requirement of about four.
The civil surgeon said that efforts were being made to depute more staff wherever there was shortage.
Despite the increasing number of patients in the centre, experts feel that the number of addicts seeking rehabilitation is negligible.
Psychiatrist and de-addiction expert Dr Anshu Gupta said that addicts are less motivated to get de-addicted. He added that those who want to get de-addicted don’t want to stay indoors in rehabilitation centres.
Dr Gupta said that, according to new modalities of treatment, those who want to get de-addicted are treated in the OPD. He said that long-term substitution (opioid substitution) is recommended for those who are not able to give up drugs, so that the harm is reduced.
The de-addiction expert said that in many cases, de-addiction and rehabilitation go on simultaneously, whereas in some cases, de-addiction is followed by rehabilitation.
