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Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Drug fight: Punjab's plan to allow private psychiatrists to dispense buprenorphine faces legal hurdle
1 2 Chandigarh: An ambitious initiative by the Punjab govt to widen access to drug rehabilitation by allowing private psychiatrists to dispense buprenorphine has run into a legal roadblock. Health minister Dr Balbir Singh recently announced with much fanfare that private psychiatrists would be permitted to provide buprenorphine—a critical medicine used in opioid dependence treatment—to patients at their OPD clinics. The move was seen as a breakthrough to bridge the treatment gap amid a crippling shortage of psychiatrists in the public healthcare system. However, the proposal now faces a major roadblock: a 2019 stay order by the Punjab and Haryana high court on a directive issued by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) that would have enabled private OPD clinics to dispense buprenorphine. The court's interim order has resurfaced as a legal barrier, throwing a spanner in the govt's efforts to broaden access to opioid substitution therapy. With Punjab battling a severe drug crisis, particularly among the youth, the need for wider treatment access has never been more urgent. Currently, nearly 10 lakh individuals are undergoing treatment at 529 govt-run Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Espalhe a sua marca para milhares de pessoas Balinhas Personalizadas Solicite orçamento Undo To further expand coverage, the state announced plans to open 41 new OOAT clinics across 10 districts. In addition, 180 private rehabilitation centres are already functional across the state. Following the health minister's announcement, the Association of Psychiatrists "provisionally" agreed to assist in managing addiction cases at govt-affiliated de-addiction centres. In response, the Punjab health department constituted a committee of experts—including representatives from the Association of Psychiatrists, the advocate general's office, and senior health officials—to explore legal avenues. In its first meeting, the committee resolved to file an application in the high court seeking vacation of the stay order. This is not the first time legal ambiguity derailed policy progress. In Aug 2020, the Punjab cabinet amended state rules to allow private psychiatric clinics to dispense detoxification medication under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985—a longstanding demand of private practitioners. Yet by 2021, the govt rescinded this provision, citing legal opinion from the advocate general's office, though other amendments were implemented. Health principal secretary Kumar Rahul confirmed that the govt is actively evaluating all options to implement the revised dispensing policy. "A committee of experts has been formed and is examining all relevant aspects, including legal avenues," he said. The Association of Psychiatrists welcomed the department's efforts but warned that the absence of a concrete timeline and uncertain legal outcomes made it difficult to offer "unconditional" support. "A lot of time has already passed. Without clarity, it will be hard to engage the psychiatric community for long," the association stated. It further contended that the stay order does not explicitly prohibit implementation of the amended rules, and that the govt's own OOAT centres continue to dispense the same medication under similar legal uncertainty. "We are ready to assist the govt, but not at the cost of being misled into believing this is a favour—when it's a rightful provision," the body said, adding that individual psychiatrists must now weigh the risks of relying on delayed govt action. EXPERTS PUSH FOR EVIDENCE-BASED ADDICTION CARE Public health specialists, including the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS), have repeatedly criticised Punjab's existing de-addiction model as outdated and ineffective. The IPS has called for treatment to be aligned with evidence-based protocols, particularly the routine use of buprenorphine, and urged that addiction care be brought under the Mental Healthcare Act for better regulation and patient outcomes.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab expands free medicine list to curb out of pocket expenditure
Chandigarh: In a significant move to make healthcare more affordable, the Punjab govt has expanded the list of essential medicines to be provided free of cost at all govt hospitals and health facilities across the state, increasing the total number to close to 500. The initiative aims to reduce the financial burden on patients, particularly those from economically weaker sections, by ensuring greater access to life-saving and commonly used medicines without out-of-pocket expenses. Punjab has one of the highest rates of out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare in the country, exceeding the national average. According to the Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey conducted by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation for the period July 2022 to June 2023, the average medical expense per hospitalisation in the state was Rs 8,306 for rural households and Rs 8,272 for urban households. These expenses are often met through personal savings or borrowing, putting additional pressure on household finances. To address this concern, the Punjab health department has increased the number of essential drugs at each level of the public health system. District hospitals will now have 487 essential drugs, up from the previous count of 276. Sub-divisional hospitals will stock 362 drugs, up from 276, while community health centres (CHCs) will have 317 essential drugs, compared to the earlier 230. At the primary health centre (PHC) level, the number has been raised from 151 to 202, and health and wellness centres will now stock 103 essential medicines. The health department has issued updated drug lists to all civil surgeons across districts and instructed hospital in-charges to ensure the uninterrupted availability of these medicines in adequate quantities. Hospital heads have also been tasked with monitoring their inventory regularly and contacting district warehouses in case of any shortages or discrepancies. If the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) is unable to supply certain medicines in time, civil surgeons and senior medical officers have been authorised to procure them locally. For local purchase, civil surgeons are authorised to spend up to Rs 10 lakh, while senior medical officers have the authority to purchase medicines worth Rs 2.50 lakh. Principal secretary of health, Kumar Rahul, stated that the decision aims to reduce the out-of-pocket burden on patients and ensure that medicines are available across all govt hospitals without interruption. He reiterated that hospital authorities must guarantee that all medicines on the list are provided to patients completely free of charge. Supporting the initiative, Dr Akhil Sarin, president, Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), called the move a step in the right direction. He noted that with nearly 500 essential drugs now being offered for free, the initiative directly lowers the cost of healthcare by addressing the significant expense of medicines, thereby making treatment more accessible and affordable for the public. "The Punjab govt's decision is being seen as a major policy intervention to strengthen public health infrastructure and move towards more equitable healthcare delivery," said Dr Sarin. BOX CHOICE EXPANDS FACILITY | OLD LIST | NEW LIST | District Hospital | 276 | 487 | Sub-divisional hospital| 276 | 362 | Community health centre| 230 | 317 | Primary health centre | 151 | 202 | BOX Doctors told to write in bold or capitals Following directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana high court on May 26, the directorate of health and family welfare has instructed all medical colleges and civil surgeons across Punjab to ensure that all prescription slips and diagnoses are written in capital or bold letters by doctors. The directive aims to improve legibility and prevent errors in patient care. Officials have been asked to ensure strict compliance with the order and see that all doctors under their respective jurisdiction implement these instructions in letter and spirit. MSID:: 121519598 413 |
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Nine Covid cases reported in Punjab this year, situation not alarming: government
Punjab has reported nine Covid cases since January 2025 and one of the patients died on Wednesday, Health Secretary Kumar Rahul said, adding that there was no cause for concern as the situation was not alarming. In a statement, Rahul said two of the nine Covid cases belonged to Haryana and that five out of the rest were mild cases and had recovered completely. One active Covid case is from Mohali and the patient is asymptomatic, he added. The deceased Covid patient, who had been admitted to Government Medical College & Hospital, Sector-32, Chandigarh, had hepatitis B with chronic liver disease. He died mainly due to his comorbid conditions, Rahul said. The Department of Health & Family Welfare is closely monitoring the situation and is in regular touch with the central government for further updates and guidelines, Rahul said, adding that the state was adequately prepared to deal with the situation. Further, the health secretary appealed to the public and media to act responsibly and avoid creating panic.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab looks to hire 1,000 docs to meet acute shortage, plans to wrap up hirings by end of year
Chandigarh: To address the chronic shortage of doctors across its health facilities, Punjab govt is gearing up to initiate a large-scale recruitment drive to hire 1,000 medical officers. This decision comes on the heels of the state's recruitment of 400 medical officers—a process that began last year after a gap of four years. The shortfall of nearly 1,000 sanctioned posts lying vacant has severely impacted healthcare delivery, particularly in border and rural regions. The issue was prominently raised during the recent budget session, with even legislators from incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) flagging the absence of doctors in their constituencies. Health minister Dr Balbir Singh assured the assembly that the govt was committed to addressing the gap, and this recruitment initiative is a step toward fulfilling this promise. Despite each district in Punjab having at least one district hospital, many have poor infrastructure, face human resource shortages, and have inadequate service delivery. Alarmingly, only 45% of these hospitals meet the required doctor staffing norms. The state's doctor-to-population ratio stands at 1.02 per 1,000—well below the national average of 1:811. To improve public healthcare access and quality, Punjab set an ambitious target of increasing this ratio to 2 doctors per 1,000 people by 2030, and to 4 by 2047. The govt also committed to formulating fresh recruitment and promotion policies, while increasing MBBS seats in state medical colleges. The upcoming recruitment plan was discussed in detail on April 17 during a meeting between principal (health secretary) Kumar Rahul, director (health services) Dr Hitinder Kaur, and a delegation from Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Walmart Photos With a New Level of Detail Old Money Style Undo Officials said the drive will be launched shortly, and they intend to wrap it up by the end of this year. Welcoming the move, PCMSA president Dr Akhil Sarin reiterated the need for regular hiring of PCMS doctors to fortify Punjab's public health infrastructure. "A robust and continuous recruitment process is essential to ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable populations," said Dr Sarin. He urged the govt to expedite the hiring process. However, attracting young talent remains a major challenge. Punjab currently offers an entry-level basic salary of Rs 53,100—significantly lower than the central scale of Rs 67,100 and Haryana's Rs 56,100. The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) has been demanding a revision of the pay structure to bring it in line with neighbouring states and central norms, making govt jobs more competitive and appealing. In addition, PCMSA has been advocating for a secure working environment for medical professionals, along with the provision of adequate equipment and support staff to ensure optimal services for the general public.
