Drug addicts in Thailand to be treated as patients

  

BANGKOK, 2 October 2016 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health has asked provincial health agencies to treat drug addicts as patients. 

Dr. Sopon Mekthon, the Permanent Secretary for Public Health, convened a video conference with the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Justice, the Royal Thai Police, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), provincial health offices and representatives of hospitals nationwide. 

After the conference, the permanent secretary said he had instructed health officials to adopt a new policy for drug treatment and rehabilitation. The policy which will be enforced on November 1, 2016 requires all health personnel to treat drug addicts as patients. 

The Public Health Ministry will be responsible for screening patients and ensuring that treatment programs at rehabilitation centers are up to standard. 

He also called on responsible units to help prevent drug abuse. Currently there are many community programs that work with drug patients such as the “To Be Number One” project under the patronage of HRH Ubolratana Rajakanya. 

The permanent secretary also instructed local officials to raise awareness about illicit drugs especially among teens who are at highest risk of falling victim to drug abuse. 

 

Great to see Thailand adopting modern attitudes.