The Meghalaya government is gearing up to address a major roadblock in its fight against drug addiction, namely a severe shortage of psychiatrists.
With only 11 government-employed psychiatrists currently serving the entire state, most of whom are based in Shillong, efforts to establish additional government-run detoxification centres have been significantly hampered.
Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh acknowledged the challenge, stating, “While we do have detox centres in the state, I had earlier pointed out the acute shortfall of trained psychiatrists and qualified personnel. To address this, the DREAM Mission facilitated an exposure visit to Kerala, where 72 psychiatrists have been identified as potential collaborators.”
He added that the state is now working to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Kerala Psychiatric Society, which will allow some of these psychiatrists to be engaged in Meghalaya’s public detox facilities during the initial phase of the partnership.
DREAM Mission Director Francis Kharshiing further elaborated on the plan, noting the government’s goal to eventually establish at least one detox centre in every district. “Currently, we have only two government detox centres – one in Shillong and another in Tura. While private centres do exist, they are often inaccessible to the marginalised sections of society, particularly those from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. This is why expanding government-run facilities is so important.”
Addressing concerns about potential language barriers for doctors from Kerala, Kharshiing acknowledged the challenge but said, “One advantage with professionals from Kerala is that many are fluent in English, which helps overcome at least part of the communication gap. For any remaining barriers, we will ensure local support and interpretation.”
He stressed the critical need for psychiatrists in the detox process, explaining, “Detoxification is the first and most essential step in rehabilitation. Without trained psychiatrists, we cannot run a detox centre effectively. Unfortunately, the current shortage has left us in a crisis situation.”
Kharshiing added that while the partnership with Kerala is a significant step, the state government is also seeking to engage with local psychiatrists, including members of the Psychiatric Society of Shillong, to strengthen its existing mental health infrastructure.
