Resume working or face suspension of licence, govt to pvt de-addiction centres

96 PVT DE-ADDICTION CENTRES HAVE BEEN ON A SHUTDOWN SINCE MONDAY TO PROTEST AGAINST THE GOVT’S CAPPING OF THE PRICE OF THE DRUG TO ₹7.5 PER TABLET

CHANDIGARH: In a signal that the state government will not back down on its order that caps the price of a de-addiction drug, Buprenorphine, director, health and welfare Avneet Kaur has warned private de-addiction centres to resume functioning or face stern action, including the cancellation of licence. Ninetysix private de-addiction centres in Punjab that treat over 50,000 addicts daily have been on an indefinite shutdown since Monday to protest against the government’s November 4 capping of the price to ₹7.5 per tablet.

On Tuesday as well, not even a single patient was treated at these centres. These private centres have been selling the drug at anywhere between ₹35 and ₹50 a tablet. Government claims that it purchases the medicine at ₹3.5 per tablet and gives it for free.

On Tuesday, the health department issued a letter, directing civil surgeons to submit a report on private centres denying treatment to addicts, so that “stern action up to suspending their license” is taken against such centres. .

“It has come to the department’s notice that some private de-addiction centres have deliberately been denying treatment and dispensation of medicines to patients. It is emphasised that the licence of Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Counselling and Rehabilitation Centre Rules, 2011, includes adherence to minimum standards of care for patients,” reads the letter, a copy of which is with HT.

The letter adds, “Denying treatment to patients is a violation of licencing rules and gives an impression that such centres have no concern for addicts.”

PSYCHIATRISTS IN GOVT HOSPITALS ASKED TO JOIN BACK FROM LEAVE

In a different letter, the department has also cancelled the leaves of its own psychiatrists and asked them to join back immediately, anticipating that the number of patients reporting to government facilities in the wake of the strike at private de-addiction centres will see an increase.

Civil surgeons have also been asked to ensure enough stock of Buprenorphine in districts. The government claims that the rate of the tablet was capped as private centres were fleecing addicts, even as it provided it for free. “The director’s letter is a stern warning to owners of these centres. Fall in line or face government action,” a senior government official dealing with the case said, adding that they such centres cannot be allowed to fleece patients.