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Oman's new psychiatric facility to treat drug addicts

Oman's Health Ministry has announced plans to set up a psychiatric polyclinic with a dedicated wing to treat drug addiction in the local community.

  • Staff Report
  • Published: 16:08 June 18, 2008
  • Gulf News

Muscat: Oman's Health Ministry has announced plans to set up a psychiatric polyclinic with a dedicated wing to treat drug addiction in the local community.

Dr Ahmad Bin Abdul Qadir Al Ghassani, Health Affairs Undersecretary and head of the National Committee for Drug and Psychotropic Substance Affairs, said the facility will be developed as part of the Ministry's current five-year action plan.

The official made the announcement on Tuesday at the opening of a national seminar on combating drug abuse, which was organised as part of national activities marking World Anti-Narcotics Day.

Attorney General Hussain Bin Ali Al Hilali inaugurated the seminar with a speech highlighting the government's vigorous efforts in tackling drug abuse among youngsters. He said the Royal Oman Police, and the ministries of health and social development have joined forces to address the phenomenon on multiple fronts: preventive, prosecutorial, therapeutic and rehabilitative.

According to Dr Al Ghassani, a 50-bed wing for treating drug addicts will be set up as part of a 250-bed psychiatric polyclinic that will be established at Al Khoudh in Muscat Governorate. The new facility will help take some of the burden off the sultanate's only dedicated psychiatric health institution, Ibn Sina Hospital.

Oman has had a fairly successful record in dealing with substance abuse, which is a limited problem relative to other countries in the region.

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