Staff testing positive will be treated, not sacked
Announced a fortnight ago after drug menace hit headlines again, dope tests covering all Punjab government staff will entail a massive administrative exercise
WHAT WILL DOPE TEST CHECK?
Presence of drugs – morphine, codeine, D-propoxyphene, benzodiazepines, cannabinol, barbiturates, cocaine, amphetamines, buprenophine, and tramadol
How will it be done? Government department will send list of employees to civil surgeon and medical superintendent in a form. On given date, employees report to hospital with self-declaration of drug history, if any; and give urine sample How will employees get report? Test reports of employees testing negative will be sent to their departments. Those testing positive will undergo the test again in a week. If the report is positive again, the employee will be referred to PGI, Chandigarh, or the state forensic sciences laboratory for a confirmatory test
What if found positive? The employee will be sent to a psychiatrist for treatment but will not be placed under suspension or expelled. The report will be kept confidential and sent to his/her department.
DOPE TEST IN NUMBERS
4 lakh Total employees 1,950 Employees to undergo test daily 65 Govt hospitals identified for tests ~25 cr Total cost ~450 Cost of each test kit
WHO FOOTS THE BILL, AND OTHER QUESTIONS
Who pays for the test? Will the employees themselves do so or will they be reimbursed? Will the finance department allocate a one-time grant to the health department?
Who goes for the test first? Will senior officials take the lead? n
How will the government deal with stigma employees testing positive face? n