Uttarakhand is preparing to admit and treat people affected by drug addiction in government hospitals, as the state responds to rising cases of substance dependence. The plan is intended to bring inpatient care closer to patients in rural and remote areas.

Capacity-building training has begun for doctors and healthcare workers serving in government hospitals. The programme aims to improve the identification and treatment of patients at primary and district levels, rather than requiring every patient to travel to a larger centre.

Online training for hospital teams

The State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) is arranging training across all districts in line with directions from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Specialists from AIIMS Rishikesh and NIMHANS Bengaluru are providing the training online.

The participants include psychiatrists, physicians, medical officers and counsellors. The training is being delivered under the drug de-addiction programme and is focused on strengthening the ability of government facilities to manage patients who need treatment for addiction.

Dr Sumit Dev Varman, additional chief executive officer of the State Mental Health Authority, said the initiative would support treatment through hospital admission and help strengthen services for patients dealing with addiction and related mental-health needs.

Special addiction wards planned

Government hospitals that already have psychiatrists ed will be equipped with 10-bed special wards. These facilities will be designated as Addiction Treatment Units, or ATU-1 units.

The state currently has psychiatrists ed in government hospitals in 5 districts. A 10-bed Addiction Treatment Unit is planned at government hospitals in those locations.

Hospitals without a psychiatrist will initially receive 5-bed wards. The plan is to expand these facilities to 10 beds after the services and training system are strengthened.

The proposed ward structure will allow patients to receive care after admission instead of relying only on outpatient consultations. It is also expected to make treatment more accessible for people coming from villages and distant parts of the state.

What the plan means for patients

The government’s approach combines staff training with new inpatient infrastructure. Psychiatrists will support hospitals where they are already available, while trained doctors and other healthcare workers will provide the initial service in facilities without psychiatric specialists.

The immediate focus is to train the hospital teams and establish the planned wards. The available information does not specify a date for opening the units or identify the individual hospitals where the beds will be created.

Conclusion

Uttarakhand is preparing a government-hospital network for addiction treatment, with 10-bed units where psychiatrists are ed and initial 5-bed wards elsewhere. Online training is already being provided to help hospital teams identify and treat patients locally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is Uttarakhand planning for addiction treatment?

The state is preparing to admit and treat people affected by drug addiction in government hospitals.

Q. How many beds will the planned units have?

Hospitals with psychiatrists will have 10-bed units. Other hospitals will initially have 5-bed wards, with a plan to increase them to 10 beds.

Q. What will the special units be called?

The 10-bed facilities will be called Addiction Treatment Units, or ATU-1 units.

Q. Who is providing the online training?

Experts from AIIMS Rishikesh and NIMHANS Bengaluru are providing online training to government hospital staff.

Q. Who will receive the training?

Psychiatrists, physicians, medical officers, counsellors and other healthcare workers are included in the training programme.