With an aim to improve the retention rate of treatment mechanism at the Outpatient Opiod Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics and government de-addiction centres, the state government is all set to commence the free ‘take home dose’ service under the de-addiction programme.

Health & Family Welfare Minister Punjab Balbir Singh Sidhu announced it had been observed that coming daily to the OOAT clinics to complete the 18-month treatment course was difficult for many addicts.

The government is operating 35 government drug de-addiction centres and 181 OOAT clinics, providing treatment to more than 1 lakh patients in the state.

The Health Minister further said it was a matter of concern that daily around 500 to 600 patients visit OOAT clinics for getting treatment where as many patients have dropped out just because of non-availability of provision of ‘take home dose’. Sidhu added private clinics would soon be permitted to provide such a service.