Rehab centers can treat 350 patients simultaneously: NDA

The National Drug Agency (NDA) on Sunday revealed that the drug rehabilitation centers across the Maldives have the capacity of treating over 350 patients simultaneously.

During NDA’s press conference on Sunday, the authority’s Chairperson Lubna Mohamed Zahir confirmed this capacity, while adding that the opportunity for treatment was more accessible to those in need now than before.

NDA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Rashid noted that none of the court-mandated individuals requiring rehabilitation are no longer in waiting, but rather already undergoing treatment.

He also noted that the international best practice standard is treatment to patients at home as the initial step, and only opt for a semi-residence program if this is not possible. For more severe cases, the approach is confined treatment.

Rashid however, highlighted that for a country like the Maldives with a compact community, the patient should not be treated while they are let loose to the society owing to lack of facilities to provide support for such individuals.

The Maldives currently has over 400 individuals receiving regular treatment and therapy as part of rehabilitation, out of which, majority are in need of psychiatric treatment according Rashid.

While highlighting the difficulties, Rashid said they were looking into changing the treatment approaches which includes mandating patients to partake in activities to help with their mental and physical enhancements.

Drug abuse is among the most serious and prevalent issues the Maldives face. NDA also reports the presence drug abusers across all local islands.