The
mushrooming of unlicensed private rehabilitation centres in Ho Chi Minh City
are being seen more as a threat than a savior for drug addicts, as they are
operating with no reliable medical facilities.
One
Nhan Ai rehab centre in district 8 of Ho Chi Minh City has advertised for
treating drug addicts, but has neither legal license to operate nor any
qualified doctors or medical facilities.
The Nhan Ai rehab centre is in fact within a
three storey private house in district 8 without any exercise facility, proper
kitchen, physiotherapy ward or psychological consultation.
The owner of the centre, a woman named Ai,
said relatives of drug addicts had two choices; either to admit drug addicts
into the centre or keep them at home.
She offered a choice of two kinds of medicines
as well, foreign made or locally made medicines. She promises to send a doctor
to examine the patient at their homes twice a day, morning and afternoon.
She calms incoming customers who express fears
of inadequate facilities at the centre, saying that she has been running the
centre for ten years now without a single mishap. Besides she adds, her centre
is not far from the district hospital and she can move the patient to the
hospital in case of any complications.
Le Minh Hai, head of the ward that controls
private medical clinics under the Department of Health, said the Nhan Ai rehab
centre has no license to operate.
This was confirmed by a Sai Gon Giai Phong
reporter who found that many private centres in the city were not operating
with a license, nor have they ever been penalized.
According to Nguyen Van Minh, deputy chief of
the city Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, more and more drug
addicts need rehab detox treatment.
The city therefore decided to encourage the
opening of private rehab centres but the centres were required to meet certain
standards such as hiring qualified doctors, providing psychological
consultation as well as vocational training for jobs at the end of a successful
treatment.
HCMC has two state-run rehabilitation centres,
Youth No.2 and Nhi Xuan centre.
The Thanh Da Drug Rehabilitation Centre in
district Binh Thanh was established by veterans, retired police officers,
medical workers and teachers.
The city plans to set up rehab activities for
families and in communities in districts 3 and 10, in future. The project is
being considered by the People’s Committee and will hopefully be implemented by
2012.
However, until the city opens certified rehab
centres, illegal private centres continue to pose a threat for drug addicts and
authorities need to crack down on their activities.
By Tien Dat
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment