CHANDIGARH/LUDHIANA: Punjab reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening healthcare and rehabilitation services in prisons during a high-level stakeholder consultation on Drugs, HIV and Prison Health held in Ludhiana on Friday. Organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the Punjab Prisons Department and NGO TYCIA to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the event brought together government officials, prison authorities and healthcare experts to discuss improving prison healthcare systems and rehabilitation services. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh highlighted the Bhagwant Mann Government’s efforts under the Yudh Nashean Virudh campaign, stressing that drug addiction should be treated as a health issue rather than a crime.
Dr. Balbir Singh said the state has decriminalised drug addiction by distinguishing addicts from drug peddlers, enabling more than 10,000 addicts to receive treatment at de-addiction centres instead of being sent to jail over the past year and three months. He added that 25,000 inmates have been screened for Hepatitis, HIV and drug addiction, while prisons now offer OOAT clinics, ITI skill development courses, psychiatrists and counsellors to support rehabilitation. Jail Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh said Punjab leads the country in convictions under the NDPS Act and must also become a model for reformative justice by ensuring quality healthcare and rehabilitation for inmates battling addiction.
The consultation featured thematic sessions on prison health challenges, prevention of drug use and communicable diseases, gender-responsive healthcare, mental health, disability and substance use disorders. Experts from UNODC shared global best practices on prison health and emphasised that access to healthcare, continuity of treatment and psychosocial support are fundamental rights for inmates during and after incarceration. Discussions also focused on screening, withdrawal management, opioid dependence treatment, reproductive health, and innovative awareness tools to strengthen prison health services and support successful reintegration into society.
