The GMSH-16 de-addiction centre, which was set up nearly a decade ago, was converted into a Covid-care facility during the pandemic
After remaining closed for nearly five years, the de-addiction centre at the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital in Sector 16 (GMSH-16) is expected to resume operations in January, providing long-awaited relief to patients struggling with substance abuse in Chandigarh. According to officials, the Chandigarh Administration has initiated steps to revive the centre, which was shut during the Covid-19 pandemic and could not be reopened due to prolonged staff shortages.
“Renovation of the space is going on, and the 10-bed facility will reopen soon, in January. We have two psychiatrists here in GMSH-16, and the process for hiring two more for this centre has also been initiated,” Dr Suman Singh, director, Health Services, Chandigarh, said. The proposal to restart the facility has been under consideration for some time; however, the absence of required manpower, particularly psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, has stalled the process.
Currently, only PGIMER provides comprehensive de-addiction treatment in Chandigarh. GMSH-32 and GMSH-16 offer only psychiatric services, without a dedicated de-addiction treatment facility. This has led to increased pressure on PGIMER, which caters not only to patients from Chandigarh but also from neighbouring states, with a high number of patients from Punjab.
Data indicates a steady rise in the number of patients seeking treatment for substance abuse. In 2023, PGIMER’s de-addiction centre recorded over 36,000 OPD visits. Of these, more than 12,500 patients were treated for drug addiction, while over 24,000 patients sought help for alcohol-related disorders. In Punjab, the highest use is of opioids, with synthetic drugs now also being used more frequently. Subodh B N, Additional Professor, Department of Psychiatry, PGI, says that a decade back, 80 per cent of cases were of alcohol dependency. Still, now the percentage is 50, as the use of opioids and cannabis has increased, with PGI offering patients Opioid Substitution Therapy.
Officials said the proposed revival of the GMSH-16 centre would help reduce this load and provide accessible treatment closer to patients’ homes. The centre is expected to initially function with a 10-bed capacity. However, experts stress that for effective service delivery, the facility would require round-the-clock staff, including psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and support staff.
Health professionals have repeatedly pointed out that substance abuse patterns in the region are changing, with increasing use of synthetic drugs and injectable substances, making specialised de-addiction services more critical than ever. Without adequate government-run centres, patients are often forced to seek expensive private treatment or remain untreated.