Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda has reiterated the Government of India’s commitment to achieving the goal of a Nasha Mukt Bharat by 2029 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Emphasising the need for a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to tackling substance use disorders, he called for greater synergy among Ministries and departments to achieve clearly defined national objectives.
He was speaking at the launch of the Capacity-Building Training Programme for Medical and Allied Healthcare Professionals Engaged in Drug De-addiction Services at Kartavya Bhawan-1, New Delhi, on October 26.
The initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of substance use disorders and forms part of the implementation of the Vision Document on Narcotic Control: 2026-2029.
Six institutions to lead training
The programme will be implemented through six Central Government institutions under the Drug De-addiction Programme (DDAP): the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS, New Delhi, located in Ghaziabad; the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru; the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh; the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Ranchi; Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi; and AIIMS Bhubaneswar. NDDTC, AIIMS, will coordinate the overall implementation of the initiative.
The training will follow a blended-learning model comprising live online sessions, in-person programmes and self-paced online courses. For doctors and medical officers, the live online component will consist of weekly sessions over 12 weeks, combining theoretical lectures with clinical case discussions. The six designated institutions will conduct sessions simultaneously, with a combined capacity of 300 participants per week.
In-person training will be delivered through five-day programmes based on a common curriculum developed by the participating institutions.
The initiative will also offer online learning modules tailored to different categories of healthcare personnel. Doctors will have access to the NAAT online course developed by NDDTC, while the Addiction Rx application developed by NIMHANS will provide additional support for treatment-related prescribing. NIMHANS e-learning modules will cater to counsellors and psychologists, while NDDTC’s online course will support the training of nurses, Community Health Officers (CHOs) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs). Certificates will be awarded by the respective DDAP institutions upon successful completion of the programmes.
Training to cover multiple categories of healthcare personnel
The programme will cover doctors, nurses, counsellors, psychologists, social workers and other medical and allied healthcare professionals involved in delivering treatment for substance use disorders.
Participants will be nominated by State Governments through the National Health Mission (NHM), as well as by Central Government services, including the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces and Railways. Personnel working in addiction treatment facilities funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will also be included.
More than 800 nominations have already been received through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and DDAP institutions via the NHM for online and offline training from various States. In addition, approximately 150 personnel from de-addiction centres supported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment are expected to participate in offline training over the next two months.
The programme will draw on the clinical expertise, multidisciplinary faculty, academic infrastructure and e-learning resources of the six designated institutions to expand access to specialised training.
Target of 10,000 trained professionals by March 2029
Addressing the gathering, Nadda observed that fragmented efforts and departments working in silos had created gaps in coordination and service delivery. He said the Vision Document on Narcotic Control: 2026-2029, unveiled by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, seeks to address these gaps by defining the responsibilities and targets of different Ministries and departments.
He stressed that effective implementation would require sustained inter-ministerial coordination and collective accountability.
In June 2026, Shah unveiled the vision document, outlining the Government of India’s strategy to tackle the drug trade ecosystem over the following three years. Under the framework, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been tasked with building the capacity of 10,000 service providers, including medical and allied healthcare personnel engaged in de-addiction services, by March 2029.
The Ministry has set annual training targets of 2,000 service providers in 2026-27, 3,000 in 2027-28 and 5,000 in 2028-29.
Highlighting the Ministry’s role, Nadda said strengthening treatment services and enhancing the capacity of healthcare professionals and de-addiction centres were central to this national endeavour. He also underscored the need to support de-addiction facilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment through appropriate training, institutional strengthening and adequate financial resources.
The Minister emphasised that addressing substance use disorders must extend beyond treatment to encompass prevention, enforcement and coordinated action against drug trafficking. He encouraged healthcare professionals and participating institutions to offer practical suggestions, particularly on issues requiring inter-departmental coordination, to improve implementation and address emerging challenges.
Dr. Anju Dhawan, Professor and Chief of NDDTC, AIIMS, New Delhi, delivered a presentation outlining the implementation strategy for the capacity-building programme for healthcare professionals engaged in the treatment of substance use disorders.
Revised manual for physicians released
The second edition of Substance Use Disorder: Manual for Physicians (Management of Addictive Disorders) was also released at the event. The manual provides practical guidance to physicians on the assessment and management of substance use disorders.
First published in 2005, the manual has been extensively revised to incorporate advances in the scientific understanding of addiction, treatment approaches and service delivery over the past two decades, while retaining its focus on practical, evidence-based clinical care.
Designed for physicians working in both specialised addiction treatment facilities and general healthcare settings, the revised edition aims to strengthen their ability to recognise, assess and manage substance use disorders with greater confidence and competence.
The manual is expected to serve as a useful resource for expanding evidence-based addiction treatment and improving access to quality care across the country.
