Ludhiana, April 20 -- The Punjab health and family welfare minister, Dr Balbir Singh, on Saturday announced an expansion of de-addiction infrastructure, including 550 new beds and establishment of additional Out-Patient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres in Ludhiana. The announcement came as part of the state government's "Yudh Nashya Virudh" campaign focused on eradicating drug addiction in Punjab.

Speaking to the media, the minister said that Punjab currently have a 480-bed capacity in de-addiction centres and a 550 more beds will further strengthen the capacity. As many as 100 new beds will be allotted to the DMC Hospital, 50 to the CMC, 100 to the upcoming Government Homeopathic Medical College, 190 to nursing college and 200 t...