Latest news with #ParminderSingh
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Time of India
Signalled to stop and facing 19 FIRs, Punjab man rams SUV into police barricade in Jalandhar, opens fire
Jalandhar: A man facing 19 police cases was shot in the left leg and arrested on Tuesday morning after he crashed a stolen SUV into a police barricade when cops signalled him to stop and then opened fire at the police team. The exchange of fire took place on the Adampur-Mehtiana road in Jalandhar's Kalara village. Jalandhar SSP (rural) Harvinder Singh Virk said the incident took place at a checkpoint at 5.50am. He said when cops at the checkpoint signalled a Bolero Camper to stop, the driver attempted to flee, crashing into the barricades set up by the police and trying to escape on foot. During this, the suspect started firing at the police team. Police warned him multiple times to surrender, but he continued shooting, said the SSP. "Due to the seriousness of the situation and the threat to the lives of police personnel, ASI Parminder Singh returned fire, hitting the suspect in the left leg, and he was apprehended," said the SSP. Accused Paramjit Singh alias Pamma is a resident of Binjo village in Hoshiarpur district. Police have seized two pistols, four live cartridges, two empty shells, 15 grams of heroin, and the stolen Bolero Camper which had a forged number plate. Virk said Paramjit was already facing 19 criminal cases in Punjab.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Amid surge in OOAT admissions, staff shortage proves a handicap
With the number of patients visiting government-run Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics seeing a rise amid the Punjab government's anti-drug campaign, a shortage of psychiatrists and counsellors is proving to be a handicap. There are only 45 psychiatrists for 542 OOAT clinics across the state, and many districts lack even a single psychiatrist. Similarly, with just 216 counsellors across the state, many clinics do not have a single counsellor, despite the health department's norm of two counsellors per clinic with a daily OPD count over 100. Psychiatrists play a crucial role in monitoring the dosage of recovering drug addicts, conducting inspections of OOAT clinics, and approving the enrolment of new patients into the programme. As per information, drug addicts visiting OOAT clinics had seen a two-fold rise since the state government launched the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' (War against Drugs) campaign in the last week of February this year. While 816 patients had registered in the month of February, it went up to 1, 391 in March, and 1, 168 in April, as per the data accessed by HT. As per officials, the numbers could have been higher if there were enough psychiatrists, who give the final approval to enrol new patients into the programme. In all, 10 lakh patients across the state have registered in OOATs since these were launched in 2017. Parminder Singh, state president, Government De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Employees Union, Punjab, said, 'The anti-drug drive will not be successful unless the manpower requirement at OOAT centres is not met. Without adequate psychiatrists and counsellors, treatment of drug addicts is severely affected.' A senior official said that the government had already initiated the process to hire 343 clinical psychologists (counsellors) while efforts are on to hire psychiatrists. 'The government is very serious about hiring the required manpower to fulfil the vacancies. We have a shortage of psychiatrists, but we will soon hire a psychiatrist too.'
Hindustan Times
12-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Only one psychiatrist for 32 OOAT centres in Patiala district
Punjab's efforts to combat drug abuse are being hampered due to shortage of psychiatrists, undermining the effectiveness of the state's anti-drug initiatives. Despite intensified campaigns like 'Yudh Nashian Virudh', the lack of mental health professionals, particularly in the health department, is hindering essential treatment services, such as safe and supervised withdrawal for addicts. In Patiala, for instance, over 4,000 patients visit the district's 32 outpatient opioid-assisted treatment (OOAT) clinics daily, but there is only one psychiatrist to oversee these centres. Experts say that psychiatrists are essential for monitoring and adjusting opioid dosages, approving new patient registrations, and authorising home dosages. Without their supervision, treatment outcomes remain limited. Parminder Singh, president of the Government De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Employees' Union, Punjab, highlighted the urgency: 'Only a psychiatrist can approve home dosage, and there is just one in the entire district. We urge the government to strengthen manpower in OOAT centres as part of the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign.' He further said that minimum eight psychiatrists dedicated to OOAT clinics were required for the district. Besides, there are only 19 councillors in the district against the required 64. Acknowledging the issue, Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh recently announced plans to empanel private psychiatrists to bridge the gap. Local health officials, including Patiala civil surgeon Dr Jagpalinder Singh, confirmed they have raised the matter with state authorities. At Samana civil hospital, a patient said: 'I can't visit the centre daily due to my health. I requested a week's medicine supply, but the officials denied it, citing lack of a psychiatrist to approve it.' Another patient added: 'We travel from remote areas every day for treatment. The psychiatrist shortage is delaying our recovery.'
