Muscat: Oman’s Ministry of Health has decided to allow private health institutions to open centres for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts for the first time.
The Ministry only allows such rehabilitation centres at private health institutions to treat addicts during day time, for not more than 12 hours.
An official told Gulf News that private health institutions have to be licenced by the ministry, apart from getting insurance for medical errors.
“The health institution must report any injuries, death and criminal acts to the nearest police station. They have also to uphold policies and controls issued by the Ministry relating to narcotics and psychotropic substances,” the official said, adding that such rehabilitation centres should meet the safety requirements set by the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA).
It should also have at least 12 beds for the patients, and a clean source of cold and hot water. It must be equipped with proper lighting and have good ventilation, with entrances and exits reserved for people with disabilities.
Moreover, such centres should have a drug recovery expert, psychologist and fitness coach.
Oman is working hard to tackle the drug menace by conducting intensive campaigns nationwide targeting the youth, the largest segment of drug users. The of drug addicts stood at 5,000 in 2014, compared to 4,000 in 2013, according to the ministry’s figures.
Oman set up more than 12 rehabilitation centres in all governorates due to the increase in drug abuse in the country.
The Al Masarra Psychiatric Hospital in the Amerat district was opened at the beginning of 2014, with a 245-bed hospital that cost 44.55 million rials (Dh423 million).
