CHANDIGARH: In a major policy update to strengthen public health frameworks, the Punjab Health Department has announced that routine screening for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C will be launched in government de-addiction centers statewide. Implemented under the broader ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ initiative, the protocol addresses the heightened vulnerability of injecting drug users to blood-borne viral infections.
Highlighting the holistic approach to addiction recovery, Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh affirmed that long-term rehabilitation requires managing associated medical conditions alongside psychological counseling and withdrawal treatment. By transitioning from occasional diagnostic drives to institutionalized screening during de-addiction intake, the government aims to detect asymptomatic cases early, facilitate timely referrals, and provide free therapeutic intervention across state facilities.
