New Delhi: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda has launched a national capacity-building programme for medical and allied healthcare professionals involved in drug de-addiction services, with a target of training 10,000 service providers by March 2029.
Launched in hybrid mode at Kartavya Bhawan-1 in New Delhi, the initiative aims to strengthen the prevention, identification, assessment, treatment and management of substance use disorders across India. It forms part of the government’s Vision Document on Narcotic Control: 2026–2029 and supports the national goal of achieving a Nasha Mukt Bharat by 2029.
The programme will train doctors, medical officers, nurses, counsellors, psychologists, social workers and other healthcare personnel through online courses, live virtual sessions and in-person training at designated institutions.
Nadda also inaugurated online training programmes for doctors, medical officers, nurses, Community Health Officers (CHOs) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs). During the event, he released the second edition of Substance Use Disorder: Manual for Physicians (Management of Addictive Disorders).
10,000 Healthcare Professionals to Be Trained by March 2029
Under the Vision Document on Narcotic Control, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been tasked with strengthening the treatment workforce by training 10,000 medical and allied healthcare professionals by March 2029.
The training target has been divided into three phases:
- 2026–27: 2,000 service providers
- 2027–28: 3,000 service providers
- 2028–29: 5,000 service providers
The programme seeks to improve the availability of trained personnel in de-addiction facilities and strengthen the delivery of evidence-based care across different levels of the healthcare system.
According to the Ministry, more than 800 nominations had already been received through the National Health Mission and participating institutions for online and offline training. In addition, around 150 personnel from de-addiction centres supported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment are expected to participate in offline training over the following two months.
Six Central Institutions to Conduct Training
The capacity-building initiative will be implemented through six central government institutions under the Drug De-Addiction Programme (DDAP). The National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS, will coordinate the overall programme.
The participating institutions are:
- NDDTC, AIIMS: Located in Ghaziabad, it will coordinate implementation and provide training resources for healthcare professionals.
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru: Will contribute e-learning resources and prescribing-related support.
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh: Will participate in training delivery.
- Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Ranchi: Will contribute to the capacity-building programme.
- Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi: Will participate in the training initiative.
- AIIMS Bhubaneswar: Will conduct training as one of the six designated institutions.
The initiative will draw on the institutions’ clinical expertise, faculty, academic infrastructure and existing digital learning resources.
Online Courses and Classroom Training to Form Core of Programme
The programme will follow a blended learning model, combining live online sessions, self-paced courses and in-person training.
Key training components
- Live online sessions for doctors: Weekly sessions over 12 weeks, combining theoretical lectures with clinical case discussions.
- Self-paced online courses: Training modules for doctors, nurses, counsellors, psychologists and other healthcare personnel.
- In-person training: Five-day programmes using a common curriculum developed by the participating institutions.
- Treatment-related digital resources: Doctors will have access to the NDDTC-developed NAAT online course, while NIMHANS’ Addiction Rx application will support treatment-related prescribing.
- Certification: Participating institutions will issue certificates to trainees who complete the prescribed programmes.
The six institutions will conduct live online sessions simultaneously, with a combined capacity of 300 participants per week.
The training curriculum will cover substance use disorders involving alcohol, cannabis, opioids, sleeping tablets and inhalants. It will also address the treatment needs of specific groups, including women and adolescents.
States, Armed Forces and De-Addiction Centres to Nominate Participants
The initiative is intended to reach healthcare professionals working across government health services and addiction treatment facilities.
Participants will be nominated through several channels, including:
- State governments through the National Health Mission.
- Central government healthcare services.
- The Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces.
- Railway healthcare services.
- De-addiction facilities supported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The programme is designed to strengthen coordination between healthcare institutions and treatment facilities, while improving the ability of professionals to identify and manage substance use disorders.
Nadda Calls for a Whole-of-Government Approach to Drug Abuse
Addressing the launch, Nadda said achieving a Nasha Mukt Bharat by 2029 would require a coordinated, whole-of-government approach.
He stressed that fragmented efforts and departments working in isolation had created gaps in coordination and service delivery. The Vision Document on Narcotic Control: 2026–2029, unveiled by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in June 2026, seeks to address these gaps by defining the responsibilities and targets of different ministries and departments.
Nadda said strengthening treatment services, improving the capabilities of healthcare professionals and supporting de-addiction centres were central to the Health Ministry’s contribution.
He also emphasised the need for coordination with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, law enforcement agencies, border-management authorities and other stakeholders. According to him, tackling substance abuse requires not only treatment and rehabilitation but also prevention, enforcement and action against drug trafficking.
Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted the importance of protecting young people from substance abuse, saying that a healthy and mentally well youth population was essential to India’s ambition of becoming a developed nation.
Revised Physician’s Manual Released After Two Decades
During the programme, Nadda released the second edition of Substance Use Disorder: Manual for Physicians (Management of Addictive Disorders).
First published in 2005, the manual has been extensively revised to reflect advances in scientific understanding, treatment methods and service delivery over the past two decades.
Designed for doctors working in both specialised addiction treatment facilities and general healthcare settings, the updated publication provides practical guidance on assessing and managing substance use disorders.
The manual is intended to help physicians recognise addiction-related problems, make appropriate clinical assessments and provide evidence-based treatment with greater confidence.
Drug Control Vision Links Treatment With Prevention and Rehabilitation
The national capacity-building programme follows the Vision Document on Narcotic Control: 2026–2029, which sets out the government’s strategy to address different aspects of the drug trade and substance abuse.
Under the plan, the Health Ministry’s responsibility focuses on strengthening treatment services and building the capabilities of medical and allied healthcare personnel. Other ministries and agencies are expected to contribute through prevention, awareness, rehabilitation, enforcement and action against trafficking.
By expanding professional training and strengthening institutional coordination, the initiative aims to improve access to patient-centred addiction care and support the government’s commitment to a Nasha Mukt Bharat by 2029.
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