Why patients prefer private rehab centres, HC asks medical college

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12

Patiala Government Medical College has been asked to explain why patients preferred privately managed de-addiction centres over government institutes.

Taking up a case on the functioning of rehabilitation and de-addiction centres in the state, the Punjab and Haryana High Court questioned the state on not utilising infrastructural facilities at de-addiction centre in Janer village of Moga district. The Bench also questioned the state on why the patients were not being shifted to the Janer institute.

The state government was also asked to submit a status report on programmes organised periodically for counselling and sensitisation of the staff at the government-run and funded de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in Punjab.

The developments took place nearly eight years after the High Court asserted that the state was “awash” with narcotics. As a petition filed in 2008 by Talwinder Pal Singh and another petitioner came up for resumed hearing before the High Court, the Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Sudhir Mittal was told that a state-level committee had been constituted for betterment of rehabilitation centres and administration of de-addiction centres.

The Bench was also told that the medical college was asked to submit a report on preference for privately managed centres. Once the report was received, the state-level committee would submit its recommendations.

The High Court, on May 19, had directed Punjab and Haryana along with Chandigarh to constitute committees before apprising the Bench of the measures suggested for betterment of rehabilitation centres and administration of de-addiction centres.

The developments took place nearly eight years after the High Court asserted that the state was “awash” with narcotics. As a petition filed in 2008 by Talwinder Pal Singh and another petitioner came up for resumed hearing before the High Court, the Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Sudhir Mittal was told that a state-level committee had been constituted for betterment of rehabilitation centres and administration of de-addiction centres.