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Chandigarh, July 1, 2025 — In a significant policy shift, the Punjab health department has announced that Medical Officers (MOs) will be trained to take on key psychiatric responsibilities at Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics. This move comes in response to a severe shortage of psychiatrists in the state, with only 45 psychiatrists available to manage 542 OOAT centres, leaving several districts without any psychiatric support.
OOAT clinics, which are critical in the fight against opioid addiction, have traditionally relied on psychiatrists for essential functions such as monitoring and adjusting opioid dosages, approving new patient registrations, and authorising take-home medication. The shortage has resulted in bottlenecks and delays, particularly in approving changes to home dosages for patients, as only psychiatrists were previously authorized to perform these tasks.
To address these challenges, the health department has developed a specialized training module for MOs, created with input from psychiatrists who attended a workshop at the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS. These psychiatrists will now serve as trainers for the MOs, equipping them to handle responsibilities previously reserved for specialists.
Officials say the decision was prompted by complaints from drug addicts about the lack of necessary psychiatric support. The new training initiative aims to empower MOs to make dosage adjustments, thereby reducing patient travel and wait times, and ensuring smoother operation of OOAT clinics with high patient footfall.
A senior official confirmed, “After training, MOs will be empowered to make changes in home-away dosages of drug addicts, alleviating a rush at OOAT clinics having high patient footfall. Now, drug addicts will not have to travel too far off places to get changes in their daily dosages”.
The move is expected to improve access to care and streamline services for the more than 83,000 individuals currently receiving treatment at OOAT clinics across Punjab.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information available as of July 1, 2025, from Medical Dialogues and Hindustan Times. The situation and policies described may evolve as the Punjab health department continues to address the psychiatrist shortage. For the most current details, please consult official state health sources.
