Only 133 patients in mega drug rehab

Only 133 patients are currently admitted at the Northern Luzon Mega Drug Assessment and Treatment Rehabilitation Center in Nueva Ecija, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial disclosed the other day.

“We just conducted our drug rehab summit last week in Clark… As of now, we have 133 patients in the Nueva Ecija Fort Magsaysay treatment and rehab centers,” Ubial said in a press conference.

She, on the other hand, noted that “almost every week, there is now steady flow of referrals from the local government units.”

The rehabilitation center is a 10,000bed facility which is composed of 166, two-level pre-fabricated buildings in a 10-hectare site. The facility, which was built to cater to drug abuse victims and surrenderees, was inaugurated in November last year.

Ubial explained that the number of admitted patients is lower than what is expected because the admission was voluntary.

“Unfortunately, that would be on voluntary basis. So, walang nag-volunteer. I think only less than 10 of the patients from Bicutan actually went to Nueva Ecija. We cannot force them to go there if they don’t want to,” she said.