Punjab’s private drug rehab centres facing closure due to Cong’s ‘policy folly’

Closure will mean trouble for patients under rehab, and those awaiting it

Over 2000 people set to lose jobs if policy enforced

CHANDIGARH, 09 February 2023 (Kulbir Kalsi):

Punjab Drug Rehabilitation Centres Union (PDRCU) has sought the immediate intervention of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to free them from the regressive policy enacted during the Congress regime due to which the drug rehabilitation centres being run in the private sector are on the verge of closure. PDRCU wants CM Mann to review the policy and hold its implementation, pending its review.

Members of a special committee set up by PDRCU to address the problem held a press meeting here about the issue. The members of the committee are also owners of rehab centres and mostly ex-addicts who have joined the mainstream. The members said that PDRCU has given many representations for revoking the policy to senior officials in the health department.

It was informed that as per the guidelines promulgated in 2011 on the intervention of the Hon’ble High Court, drug rehabilitation centres are required to have the facility of in-house counsellors.