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De-addiction Centre Fails Patients: Rules Broken for Years
3 Feb
Summary
- Patients denied subsidized meals, open space, and structured rehabilitation.
- NGO charged patients 90 times more for meals than agreed.
- Facility operates from unsuitable premises violating mandatory rules.
A government-aided drug de-addiction centre in Sector 18 is operating in violation of its rules and contractual obligations. The facility, run by the NGO Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM) under an MoU with the UT administration, has been denying patients essential services like subsidized meals and adequate space since its establishment 14 years ago.
Despite official records and inspection reports repeatedly flagging serious deficiencies, including lack of open space and poor ventilation, the UT administration has continued to renew SPYM's license. The NGO has been charging patients ₹6,500 per month for food, significantly exceeding the ₹700 per month agreed upon in the MoU, and offering no concessions for destitute patients.
The centre, set up in 2011 following High Court orders, operates from a press building, lacking crucial recreational and occupational therapy facilities mandated by 2014 rules. The UT health department cites a lack of alternative sites for relocation.
This situation persists as Chandigarh sees a rise in substance use cases. In 2023, over 3,100 patients visited the drug de-addiction clinic. The city has limited inpatient facilities, with PGIMER's centre having a long waiting list and the health department's own centre remaining closed for four years.
