Firms can open drug rehabilitation centers

CHINA'S enterprises and other social organizations may open drug rehabilitation centers under the supervision of local governments, China News Service Center said today, citing a conference by the country's Ministry of Public Security. "Anti-drug commissions at all levels may cooperate with enterprises and other institutions to build drug rehabilitation centers," Zhang Xinfeng, Vice Minister of the Public Security Ministry and the Vice Director of the National Narcotics Control Commission, said yesterday in Beijing. Public security authorities at all levels shall try their best to win the support of local governments to facilitate these institutes with tax cuts, offering financial aid, providing land at a low price and by giving the green light to market developments, Zhang said. Until 2008, a total of 350 million yuan (US$44.30 million) will be invested in the construction of basic facilities for anti-drug use, especially for building rehabilitation centers, the report said. Zhang emphasized that the country needs more administrators with a strong sense of responsibility and good management skills in its narcotics control sector, which will then lead the patients to participate in the administration of the rehabilitation centers. Leaders of the centers have to balance the social impact and the economic profits of daily operations, Zhang said. The country's public security ministry will further enhance supervision upon the rehabilitation centers, Zhang said. The centers will be checked in aspects of construction scale, profits and the number of patients they can host. Chinese story