DOH eyes one drug rehab center set up in every PHL region —Duque

After Vice President Leni Robredo pushed for a "health-based approach" in addressing the illegal drugs menace, the Health department on Saturday said it is ramping up efforts for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependents.

In showing support for the Vice President –who has just been appointed as anti-drug czar –Department of Health (DOH) chief Francisco Duque III has targeted the establishment of drug rehab centers in every region of the country.

"Our target is to ensure there is one TRC (treatment and rehabilitation center) for every region and we are on the way to accomplishing that," Duque said during the "In Focus" news forum in Quezon City.

Prior to the acceptance of her appointment as co-chair of the Inter-agency Committee Against Illegal Drugs (ICAD), Robredo said the government should adopt a health-based approach in curbing the illegal drugs problem in the country.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Robredo to ICAD after she criticized his anti-illegal drug campaign for the number of drug suspects killed in police operations.

The DOH, as a member of ICAD, "Patuloy ang pagpapaunlad ng kakayahan o capacity building ng treatment at rehabilitation centers," Duque said.

"In fact, under this administration we have established more and more treatment and rehabilitation centers across the country," he added, noting that there are around 13 to 14 TRCs all over the country that has a total of 17 regions.

Likewise, the health chief said the Health department is working with the Department of Budget and Management to  "increase the number of plantilla positions to allow us to hire on a contractual basis certain treatment resources for health" such as psychiatrists and psychologists. —LBG, GMA News