DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Haryana Health Minister, Kumari Arti Singh Rao that 46 new de-addiction centres will be opened across the state to help the youth to overcome drug addiction. She assured that she herself will also monitor the de-addiction centres to ensure they provide necessary facilities as required.

The Health Minister was responding to a question asked by a member of the House during the budget session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today.

Expressing concern over the growing issue of drug addiction in the state, Kumari Arti Singh Rao said that the state government is running a campaign for de-addiction at its own level, she appealed to all the members of the House to participate in the campaign to make Haryana a drug-free state. Over the past five years, 14,621 young people have been freed from addiction, and the government's efforts in this regard continue, she added.

She said that at present 130 de-addiction centres are operating in the state, including private, government and semi-government centres.The licenses of these de-addiction centres are issued by the Director Services after the consent of the Director General Health Services, Haryana as per the Haryana De-addiction Centre Rules, 2010 and their amendments in 2018.

Kumari Arti Singh Rao, said that there are a total of 20 regular and 5 contractual psychiatrists in the Health Department. To address the shortage of psychiatrists, 38 medical officers have completed a six-month online "De-Addiction Training" from PGIMER, Chandigarh.

These officers have been assigned additional duties at their respective postings to strengthen de-addiction services. The second batch of 6 months online de-addiction training by the Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER Chandigarh has started from December 3, 2024 for 50 Medical Officers of the Health Department, she added.

The Health Minister said that urine drug detection kits are being made available in hospitals for early detection of drug abuse. These kits quickly identify the presence of substances like opioids, cocaine, cannabis, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, and barbiturates in urine samples. Detection of drug abuse through these kits helps the doctor to provide appropriate and early treatment to the drug addict individual.

Haryana Health Minister Kumari Arti Singh Rao informed that Accident and Trauma Care Services will be upgraded at the Civil Hospital located at Mandikhera village in Nuh district. This hospital will also be upgraded from 100 bed capacity to 200, for which approval has been given.

The Health Minister was responding to a question asked during the ongoing Budget Session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today.

She informed that the 100-bed Al-Afia District Civil Hospital in Mandikhera village has been functioning since 2005. The total land of the hospital is 16 acres and 8 marla.

The government has given in-principle approval to upgrade the 100-bed Al-Afia (Mandikheda) District Civil Hospital to a 200-bed hospital in July 2024. At present, 135 health facilities are available in Nuh district.

(editor@dailyworld.in)