LAHORE   -  The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) on Thursday sealed an illegal drug treatment and rehabilitation centre after shifting 80 ‘inmates’ to the Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH).

According to details, Guardian Home, being run under the banner of Khidmat-e-Adam Trust in Badami Bagh area near Khokhar Pind Ring Road, was functioning illegally without registration from the PHC. Its administrators had put 80 persons in subhuman living conditions. They were crammed into three unvented rooms and exposed to a constant risk of scabies and other infectious diseases.

As per the report, nine FIRs have been registered against the owners of the facility. They cruelly treated the patients in the name of drug treatment and rehabilitation and subjected them to repeated tortures. Neither a medical expert nor any paramedical staff was there to treat patients who were kept in illegal confinement on the pretext of their treatment against drug addiction.

Besides, the unavailability of medicines, even semblance of edible food and potable water was not being given to the inmates. The centre not only lacked emergency health facilities, but also basic life necessities. The inmates ate substandard food cooked and kept in unhygienic conditions, and were drinking water from the toilet taps. Records of patient registration, care and treatment were also not available.

Under the supervision of the PHC, a joint action was taken by the district administration, health department, police and other departments concerned, and 80 inmates were shifted to the PIMH, where their medical check-ups and tests were done by experts of respective fields. Patients will be admitted to the Drug Addiction Treatment Centre of the PIMH while the healthy ones will be handed over to their families.

PHC Chief Executive Officer Dr Saqib Aziz has said that all illegal drug treatment and rehabilitation centres will be closed down, and strict action will be taken against their owners. “Only those centres will be allowed to function which are registered with the PHC and completely implement various rules and regulations,” he added.