Center Ost, which currently operates in the premises of the Government General Hospital, Kozhikode Beach. | Photo Credit: K. Ragesh
In the middle of the reports of the possible relocation and demolition of the existing building, where the therapy center is the Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) at the Kozhikode Beach (also known as Beach Hospital), Samithi Sammithi, Citizens’ Civic Group, urged the authorities. equipment.
The Ost and Counseling Center, which provides the treatment of addicts to addicts who fights drug addiction, currently operates from a building used previously for waste processing located near the pediatric department. The center works until 14:00 a day. However, concerns have been raised over drug users reportedly persisting near the equipment after operating hours, so that the syringes used and sometimes involve in a quarrel.
Several individuals and organizations have expressed concern about the impact of the situation on patients, especially children and passers -by hospitals. After these complaints, the State Commission for Human Rights recommended relocating the center outside the hospital. Subsequently, the hospital authorities asked for higher officials to consider the transfer of the center.
In a recent report to the Chief of the District Police (the city of Kozhikode), the hospital superintendent stated that the hospital security staff was not advised to manage a confrontation involving “drug users”, some of which allegedly threatened the staff with syringes and sharp objects. The report also stated that the building located by the Ost centers was considered for demolition as part of plans for the development of the hospital infrastructure.
However, Samrakshan Samithi demanded the center to move the center to the OP of the hospital wing rather than moving externally. “There are 11 Ost centers in the state, and nine of them work on the operating wings of government hospitals. None of them face similar problems,” said Satheesh Parannur, Secretary of Samithi. He said the problems appeared because the center is located outside the main building of the hospital. He also quoted the recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the Union to keep the centers to operate in hospitals.
Meanwhile, the hospital superintendent Dr. Jeevan Lal said any decision to shift Ost Center would have to be taken by higher authorities.
Published – 9 June 2025 23:33
