More hospitals to be built for addicts

Provincial-level comprehensive hospitals will be established to treat drug addicts who develop serious illnesses during compulsory detoxification programs, according to a senior official at the Ministry of Justice.

Judicial departments across the country will recruit senior, experienced doctors, nurses and pharmacists alongside a number of professors and associate professors from provincial top-tier hospitals to work part time in the new facilities, according to Cao Xuejun, director-general of the Drug Rehabilitation Administration Department at the ministry, who said the cost will be borne by the central and local governments.

Ministry statistics show that 240,000 addicts are undergoing correction programs in 361 rehabilitation centers under the jurisdiction of judicial departments nationwide.

Moreover, each of the rehabilitation centers has its own medical center. Last year, these centers were visited 2.9 million times in total by the addicts.

“The level of treatment and the equipment at medical centers in rehabilitation centers lag far behind the practical needs, given the high demand for care,” Cao said.

According to the ministry, the centers mainly deal with illnesses associated with regular drug use, such as AIDS, hepatitis and severe colds.

Addicts diagnosed with other serious illnesses, including heart problems and kidney disease, are sent to public hospitals for treatment.

However, the large number of people being treated at public hospitals means resources are scarce.

“It’s essential that we establish comprehensive hospitals in the provinces to better treat drug users with serious illnesses and protect their human rights,” Cao said.