Jalandhar divisional commissioner R Venkata Ratnam inspected the de-addiction centre at ESI Hospital on Saturday along with civil surgeon RL Bassan.
He personally met the drug addicts at the centre and asked them about the problems they face at the hospital. He checked the registers maintained by the health officials of the hospital and ensured facilities were provided to the patients.
Ratnam informed that as many as 474 patients were admitted at the de-addiction centre and had been cured of drug addiction.
He also said he would take up the matter of shortage of staff in the hospital with the authorities concerned. Ratnam said, “The drug addicts should renounce drugs for their own good and for their families. The counselling of doctors can help them start afresh.”
During the visit, Venkat Ratnam directed the medical staff and the district administration to continue their efforts in making Punjab a drug-free state.He said he would visit the centre again for inspection after 15 days.