MHRC, while considering the act as a case of human rights violation, has directed all respondents to respond within three weeks’ time w.e.f January 20, 2022.
TFM Desk
The Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) while taking serious note over the frequent non-availability of Oral Substitution Therapy (OST) medicines to drug dependents coming to acquire medicines from OST centres opened across the state, has exclaimed it as a case of human rights violation and registered a case under Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
The decision to this effect was arrived at on January 20, 2022 following a complaint lodged by Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) over denial of OST medicines by various OST centres across the state to drug dependents who are desperate in leading a normal life and become a responsible and productive citizen, according to a release by CoNE.
MHRC, while considering the act as a case of human rights violation and registering the complaint lodged by CoNE as MHRC Complaint Case No. 5 of 2022, has directed all respondents’ viz. Director of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India; Director, Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS), Govt. of Manipur; Chief Medical Officer, Kakching Community Health Centre; Medical Superintendent, Ukhrul District Hospital and Medical Superintendent, Senapati District Hospital, to respond within three weeks’ time w.e.f January 20, 2022.
CoNE said that it has on various occasions made complaints to authorities concerned to ensure uninterrupted supply of OST medicines in all OST centres across the state after various grievances were reported to CoNE by many drug dependents undergoing OST treatment. However, no concrete action has been taken up by the competent authorities and the issue continues to creep up every now and then.
The latest complaint came to CoNE on January 18, 2022 from three drug dependents who accessed OST medicines from OST centres located at Kakching Community Health Centre, Ukhrul District Hospital and Senapati District Hospital, it added.
OST centers were opened in different centres across the state considering its effective treatment for opioid dependence and harm reduction strategy among IDUs. International evidence including Indian records show that OST programmes are effective in substantially reducing the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other blood borne viruses like Hepatitis-C & B.
It also immensely reduces illicit drug use, premature death from overdose, drug related criminal activities, financial burden and other stresses related to drug users and their family.
However, despite this evidence and the positive outcome of the OST programme, the programme due to evident negligence on the part of the implementing authorities, is now in a state of failure which needs to be looked into seriously, CoNE asserted.