5 new OOAT clinics to be opened in Rupnagar: Minister

Punjab: Five new Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics will come up in Rupnagar district. This was stated by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh during a meeting at the District Administrative Complex in Rupnagar recently. Naya Nangal, Purkhali, Solakhian, Ghanauli and Lokheri are the five locations which are being internally assessed. He said that additional beds are also being arranged in the de-addiction centres in the state so that every patient can get quality treatment. The minister had recently announced to increase the capacity of the de-addiction centre in Mohali from 50 to 70 beds. Rupnagar Deputy Commissioner Varjit Singh Walia said that the existing 10-bed de-addiction centre in Ropar will become a 40-bedder, while another such centre is being planned for Anandpur Sahib. The minister said that more OOAT clinics are being set up for the convenience of patients so that the youth trapped in drug addiction do not have to go to far-flung areas to get medicines. He said that after providing treatment in de-addiction centres, patients are also being given skill development training. Officials said that the government is also coordinating with private sector hospitals to provide treatment to drug addicts in the state. He said that 15-member committees of the Health Department have been formed in each village to coordinate with the administration and police in the state government’s war against drugs. During this, Dr. Balbir Singh directed the officials of the Local Bodies Department, Health Department, Rural Development and Panchayat Department, Water Supply and Sanitation Department to start fogging on a large scale from April 21 to prevent dengue, chikungunya and malaria. The minister said that the government has decided to make cards under the Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme to provide free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh to needy citizens. Rupnagar MLA Dinesh Chaddha and SSP Gulneet Singh Khurana were present on the occasion