PHC rescues 133 persons from illegal rehab

Centre was functioning neither registered nor licenced by the PHC

LAHORE:

In an ongoing crackdown against illegal healthcare establishments across the province, the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) on Thursday locked down an unlawful drug treatment and rehabilitation centre after evacuating 133 inmates.

An illegal rehabilitation centre Guardian Home was being operated under the banner of Khidmat-e-Adam Trust in Khokhar Pind near the Ring Road, Badami Bagh area. It was functioning illegally since it was neither registered nor licenced by the PHC.

A spokesperson for the PHC said the centre’s administrators had virtually imprisoned 133 individuals, who had been made to live in subhuman living conditions camouflaged as a drug treatment and rehabilitation centre.

He further said the inmates were repeatedly subjected to torture and were not given any kind of treatment since no psychiatrists, psychologists, medical experts or paramedical staff had been appointed.

They were given substandard food and the rehabilitation centre had no necessities.

Joint action was carried out by the district administration, health department, police and other departments concerned under the supervision of a PHC team. The officials evacuated 133 persons, and experts of the Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH) examined them.

Out of these, 123 were sent with their relatives, while 20 were admitted in the PIMH, and would be handed over to their kith and kin in due course.

The local police have initiated further action against the owners of the centre.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2022.