To provide health care services and treatment to drug dependent persons at the village level, the Punjab government is setting up ‘Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment’ (OOAT) clinics in community health centres (CHC) of state.

The health and family welfare minister, Brahm Mohindra said after witnessing spectacular response of ‘Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment’ (OOAT) Clinics’ across the state, in first phase, around 12 clinics will commence from SAS Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib and Roopnagar at the CHC level.

The minister said in order to provide health care services and treatment to drug dependent persons at the village level, now the health department is going to open OOAT clinics in all CHCs where patient suffering from any drug addiction would get the treatment without having been admitted to hospital.

He said that concerned authorities are strictly instructed to ensure, functioning of clinics and centres as per Standard Operating Protocol and mark daily attendance of persons visiting these clinics.

Mohindra said that in order to fulfil shortage of psychiatrist or supporting staff like male staff nurses, ward attendants, security guards and counsellors for de-addiction and rehabilitation centres at any point, the District De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Society, chaired by deputy commissioner, is mandated to recruit them.

Divulging about the availability of essential medicines and free tests at the centres, the minister said that all medicines are available in plenty in central ware house. He said that facility of tests are being provide free of cost in the hospitals to which the government de-addiction centres have been attached.

The minister said that Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh has assured that if there is any need of more funds for this crucial programme he would sanction the same from the CM’s Relief Fund.

He said that it is a fact that patient registration has increased in OOAT clinics and OOAT is becoming more preferred mode of treatment because it is OPD based and absolutely free.

Mohindra said the average registration in OOAT clinics has increased from 70 new patients per day in June to 408 new patients per day in July. Further, the average footfall in OOAT clinics has increased from 2345 patients per day in June to 4408 patients per day in July.

The number is expected to go up substantially over the next two weeks, and is likely to close July at record levels. He said that at present, 81 clinics are functional in the state, he added.