Govt to set up rehab centres in every district, to soon sign MoU with KPC for appointment of psychiatrist: Kharshiing

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 30, 2025

Mission Director of Drug Reduction, Elimination, and Action Mission (DREAM) Francis Kharshiing said the government’s target is to set up rehabilitation centre for providing treatment to drug users in every district once signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Kerala Psychiatric Society (KPS) is completed to address the shortage of psychiatrists in the state.

Speaking to media persons on Friday, Kharshiing said, “We have a target of opening rehabilitation centres in every district, if not more then at least one. We also have a target of opening a detox centre in every district. At the moment, we have only two detox centres run by the government. There are private detox centres but you have to pay. So, the government is concerned about the marginal families from BPL families. Therefore, the government is keen to have a detox centre in every district.”

In view of the huge shortage of psychiatrists in the state, the mission director said very soon an MoU will be signed with the KPC from Kerala.

“We have a shortage of psychiatrists at the moment. I had a discussion with the KPC and by next week, we will have a video conferencing with them and along with the principal secretary and commissioner & secretary we will have a discussion and shortly we will sign an MoU with them,” he said.

“Kerala produces around 72 psychiatrists per year and most of them are still looking for jobs. So, they are very keen to come and work with us. Depending on our discussion, we will encourage them to join us. As soon as MoU is activated, we will start detox centres in every district,” he added.

Further, the mission director also informed that very soon the government will also set up a rehabilitation centre at Tura, West Garo Hills. According to him, Garo Hills is also being affected by drug menace in a big way.

Another rehabilitation centre will also come up at Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills.

According to him, inspections of the proposed buildings for setting up these rehabilitation centres have been conducted recently at Tura and Nongstoin.