JAMMU: Secretary Health and Medical Education, Bhupinder Kumar, today reviewed the functioning of private Drug De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centers operating across J&K.
The meeting had a detailed discussion on several significant issues concerning the working of these centers including assessment and licensing for existing private drug de-addiction centers.
It was informed that in view of the serious challenges posed by the menace of drug abuse, intensified campaign of “Nasha Mukht Abhiyaan” has been launched to effectively deal with the emerging issue.
The measures required to deal with the alarming situations included preventive, curative, and rehabilitative aspects. The UT Government has already adopted a drug de-addiction policy that calls on for collective action by different departments to tackle drug abuse.
Recently, Health and Medical Education Department has also issued Standard Operating Procedures for setting up Drug de-addiction centers which provide uniform guidelines on setting up such centers.
The issues with regard to intensive information, education, and communication especially among youths, adults, and professionals under “Nasha Mukht Bharat” were also discussed.
Reviewing various aspects of Drug de-addiction and rehabilitation, Secretary directed the Constitution of District Level drug de-addiction monitoring committee with immediate effect. He asked for conducting periodic meetings for regular monitoring and inspections of Drug de-addiction centers. He said that the findings and recommendations of the district-level committees should invariably be shared with Divisional Level Drug de-addiction centers monitoring committee.
Secretary asked the officers for putting in place an online mechanism for patient registration duly linked with Unique Identification numbers (UID), “Aadhaar” both for public and private Drug de-addiction centers as well as chemist shops and connect them with the supervisory agencies to prevent pilferage and misuse of Narcotic Medicines.
The meeting was attended by Principals of GMCs, Directors of Health Services, an Additional Secretary Health and Medical Education Department, Joint Director, Planning besides HODs of the Psychiatric Department of GMCs among other officers of the Health and Medical Education Department.
