Equal treatment for Bahraini and expat drug addicts

Manama : Local and non-Bahraini drug addicts are treated equally in terms of receiving government-supported medical assistance (free) in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The latest development was confirmed by Health Minister Faeqa bint Saeed Al Saleh recently.

The most recent figures released by Health Ministry showed that around 40,000 addicts were treated in government health facilities in the years 2010-2014.

“A total of 773 patients were admitted in Al Moayyed Drug and Alcoholic Rehabilitation Unit at the Psychiatric Hospital,” the Minister revealed.

Explaining the Ministry’s strategy to combat drug and alcohol addiction, the Minister said, “Treatment, admission and rehabilitation programmes are provided to citizens and residents for free. These services are provided around the clock. Patients are treated with respect to their privacy and secrecy. We’re cooperating with the World Health Organisation to benefit from their expertise. Our cadres are being trained according to the latest international standards.”

The Minister also added that a comprehensive drug addicts’ rehabilitation centre would be established soon in cooperation with Interior Ministry.

More details about the Ministry’s plans to combat and eliminate addiction will be discussed between the Minister and the country’s parliamentarians during their next weekly assembly on Tuesday.