The Helping Hand De-Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, operated by P Ramu, is accused of being set up under the guise of an NGO to secure government funding for de-addiction initiatives
Published Jan 20, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 20, 2025 | 7:00 AM
De-addiction
“They are hitting us with iron rods. Ramulu sir is hitting,” a trembling voice reveals in a video shared from a de-addiction centre in Telangana’s Hanamkonda district. The video, shared by the Telangana State Medical Council (TGMC), captured harrowing accounts from patients inside the facility.
Another patient echoed the sentiment, saying, “We are just taking sleeping pills and sleeping. They are hitting us very badly, not treating us like humans.” Another patient added, “It feels like we’ll die if we stay here. You can ask them — they hit me very badly yesterday.”
These allegations came to light following a surprise inspection by TGMC, revealing shocking irregularities, including the abuse of inmates and the unregulated use of psychotropic drugs.
“We received information from psychiatrists from around about this centre in Hanamkonda mistreating patients and administering incorrect medicines,” said Dr. V Naresh Kumar, a TGMC member to South First.
The facility, named Helping Hand De-Addiction Treatment cum Rehabilitation Centre, is operated by P Ramu, who allegedly set it up under the guise of a non-governmental organisation to secure government funding for de-addiction initiatives.
“Ramu has absolutely no medical qualifications,” Dr V Naresh explains. “After merely undergoing basic de-addiction therapy training, he began posing as a doctor, administering high doses of Schedule H drugs and psychotropic substances without any medical supervision.”
The horror doesn’t end with unauthorised medication. In what seems like medieval torture practices, patients reported being stabbed with screwdrivers and subjected to cruel “control” methods, including having screws inserted into their nails, said Dr Naresh.
The two-hour inspection revealed multiple violations that paint a picture of systematic abuse and neglect. The facility, licensed for only 50 beds, was housing 84 patients, with multiple individuals forced to share single beds in cramped conditions. Despite charging ₹15,000 per patient monthly, basic amenities and proper medical care remained conspicuously absent.
More alarming still is the center’s cavalier approach to controlled substances. “Ramu has been administering powerful psychotropic drugs like lorazepam and clonazepam without any qualified psychiatric oversight or necessary permissions from narcotic authorities. These medications, which require careful monitoring and precise dosing, were being distributed as though they were ordinary pills,” said Dr Naresh.
Dr. V Naresh Kumar confirmed that the facility’s license to operate expired on 28 December last year, yet it continued to admit patients, exceeding its approved capacity of 50 beds.
Reports revealed that between 85 and 100 patients were being admitted each month, with two to three patients often forced to share a single bed.
The facility was initially registered under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction to secure government funding for de-addiction initiatives. However, the inspection revealed that the operator failed to renew the license and had not maintained mandatory records as per legal standards.
TGMC officials requested documentation, including the NGO’s registration, de-addiction training certificates, and permits required by the Central government. Ramu was unable to provide any valid paperwork, leading TGMC to escalate the matter to district medical officers and law enforcement.
The TGMC has sent the inspection report, to the vigilance department of the council, and are awaiting the complaint to the police to file an FIR under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Additionally, charges under sections 34 and 54 of the National Medical Commission Act are being pursued.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
