Patiala, May 18 -- With injectable drugs emerging as the main contributor of sharp rise in new HIV infections, the Punjab government has ordered mandatory HIV screening of all drug addicts registered at Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres across the state. The large-scale testing drive is set to begin from Monday.

According to an official communication issued by the Punjab health department, there are 455 operational OOAT centres in Punjab, with 3,09,918 registered clients currently undergoing treatment for substance abuse.

"It is imperative to screen all clients registered with OOAT centres for HIV," the department stated in the order issued to district health authorities - a copy of which is with HT.

The intensified s...