Chandigarh: Taking a major step forward to make the state drug-free, the Health & Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research Minister Dr. Vijay Singla, on Thursday, asked the managements of all the drug de-addiction centers to strictly curb the misuse of drugs available in these centers, failing which invite revocation of the licenses of centers and penal action will be taken against the managing staff.
During a marathon meeting with top officials of the department, the Health Minister said, “the old days are gone, when only claims to eliminate drugs were made. What will be promised now, will be fulfilled by all means at any cost. The Punjab government is serious about making Punjab drug-free state and no one, directly or indirectly involved in the drug trade, would be spared for playing with the health of the people.”
Dr. Singla said that there were 186 private drug de-addiction centers in the state and he was receiving reports of misuse of drugs in various centers. He said, “those violating the instructions of the health department will be dealt with iron hands.” At the same time, the Health Minister saught fulsome cooperation of all the chemists of the state, saying that they should provide drugs to the persons only after checking doctor’s prescription.