Over half of rehab patients discharged without completing treatment: audit report

The majority of individuals admitted to four government-subsidized drug treatment and rehabilitation centers were discharged without completing their treatment and rehabilitation (T&R) programs, according to the Audit Commission.

The report, released on Wednesday, showed that 75 percent of admissions were sent to Shek Kwu Chau Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre (SKC) from 2019, with 2,621 admissions discharged as of the end of 2024.

The report revealed that only 43 percent of the discharged individuals had completed both the T&R programs after the commission analyzed the discharge records.

According to the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers, the general program offered by SKC typically provides three weeks of detoxification followed by four to twelve weeks of rehabilitation.

It was also highlighted that the annual occupancy rates for all four centers have failed to meet the Department of Health's standards since 2015.

The annual occupancy rates of SKC remained below the 75 percent standard throughout the entire period, ranging from 39 to 70 percent.

Meanwhile, the Sister Aquinas Memorial Women’s Treatment Centre (WTC) consistently fell short of its 80 percent standard, with rates between 30 and 59 percent.