Drug treatment services expands with three new remand centres

Three new remand centres for drug treatment have been opened across Maldives, expanding the government’s rehabilitation infrastructure to include judicially mandated treatment alongside existing detox and community rehabilitation services.

The new centres opened on Saturday are located in Addu City, Fuvahmulah City, and Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo.

National Drug Agency (NDA) said that while these facilities previously offered only detoxification and community-based rehabilitation, they will now also function as remand centres for individuals ordered into treatment by the courts.

The newly expanded services are:

- Thinadhoo (Gaafu Dhaalu): Drug Detoxification and Community Rehabilitation

- Fuvahmulah City: Drug Detoxification and Community Rehabilitation

- Hithadhoo, Addu City: Vilunu Centre

The expansion complements the existing remand facility in Kaafu atoll Himmafushi and is part of a broader treatment system that includes both residential and non-residential services.

Residential care options cover therapeutic communities, full residential detox programmes, semi-residential facilities, and remand centres.

According to the NDA, the total bed capacity for drug treatment facilities nationwide currently stands at 350 beds.