It's two months since the directorate of health services' (DHS) drug detoxification centre was shifted from Khorlim-Mapusa to the new district hospital at Peddem, and patients are still being handled at the OPD level.

While doctors and patients desperately seek a de–addiction ward, the hospital's 10–bed psychiatric ward remains locked, as do the lips of the authorities over the issue. When TOI visited the ward it was an empty hall without any furnishings or equipment.

Though doctors are reluctant to speak, investigations and hospital records show that on an average 35–40 patients visit the department everyday and sources in the centre said at least 6 to 8 of the patients require admission.

"About two or three patients need urgent treatment that can be provided only through admission," a senior doctor told TOI.

"For alcohol de–addiction, patients need to remain in hospital for about ten days," another doctor said.

Health services director Rajnanda Dessai said, "The new psychiatry ward is not yet identified.

Till that time doctors have been told to admit patients in the general wards when admission is urgently required. The new ward will be provided soon after the completion of all formalities."

Patients are being admitted in other wards on a doctor's personal request. This, however, disturbs others being treated in the ward. "Psychiatric patients require a separate ward," doctors asserted.

TOI investigations revealed that since the hospital's shifting the number of patients has increased by 25% to 30%. This, sources said, is because of awareness and easy accessibility. Earlier alcoholics visiting Azilo were referred to the Khorlim centre and many didn't bother to travel the short distance.

Sources said, the problem of alcohol addiction is fast assuming serious proportions and detoxification alone would not work and that the state needs more rehabilitation centres to cope with alcoholism. They added that this does not appear to happen as the government is not concerned with running existing ones.

Statistics reveal that in 2007, the number of deaths from liver cirrhosis was 168. This increased to 183 in 2008 and 253 in 2009.

The centre is open daily for out patients, which include alcoholics, drug addicts and psychiatric patients and admitted patients.