From Civil Hospital Pathankot to the Narcotics Control Bureau, New Delhi
Punjab’s drug-abuse crisis affects individuals, families and communities. Alongside enforcement, the public deserves clear information about access to treatment and the use of public funds. Our journey began with a focused request for official information about Buprenorphine-Naloxone (BXN), a medicine used in the treatment of opioid dependence, at government-supported de-addiction and Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) services.
We submitted a Right to Information (RTI) application seeking records concerning the distribution and utilisation of BXN medicine at the government de-addiction facility. The information was not supplied as sought. This led us to pursue the available information-commission process.
After the information was not supplied, we approached the Punjab State Information Commission. The Commission issued an order. Our team considers the outcome unsatisfactory and believes the issues raised about access to public-interest treatment information require further legal examination.
We submitted a representation raising drug-related accountability concerns. According to our records, the representation has remained pending for approximately three years. We continue to seek an acknowledgment, a status update and appropriate consideration by the competent authority.
A colleague separately filed an RTI application seeking information relating to the State’s response to drug abuse and the implementation of its flagship campaign, Yudh Nashian Virudh. The application was forwarded through the Health Department and then to Police/Narcotics authorities. The final response cited security grounds for not providing the requested information. We believe any exemption should be examined against each item sought, including whether non-sensitive aggregate information can be disclosed.
We also submitted a representation to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) concerning drug-related issues and matters placed before the authorities. According to our records, the representation has remained without a satisfactory response for approximately one year. We seek acknowledgment, a status update and appropriate action within the NCB’s jurisdiction.
We are an independent public-interest initiative. Our purpose is not to target a political party, government or individual. We support lawful enforcement, evidence-based treatment, rehabilitation and transparent public administration. We recognise that legitimate confidentiality and operational security must be protected; at the same time, any refusal of information should be assessed under the applicable law and in relation to the specific information requested.
Independent scrutiny of treatment programmes • Transparent BXN accounting • District-wise treatment information • Timely responses to representations • Public reporting of measurable outcomes
As Punjab approaches the 2027 Assembly elections, we invite every political party to answer:
Will you commit to an independently auditable and publicly accessible Punjab Drug Treatment and Accountability System?
We will continue seeking records, pursuing lawful remedies and publishing carefully verified findings. We will distinguish documented facts from allegations and unanswered questions, protect patient privacy, and provide concerned authorities a fair opportunity to respond.
Initiative by