Peace Restored At Hospitals

By E.OYUNDARI

After the regular Cabinet meeting last Wednesday, Health Minister G.Shiilegdamba made a statement through on Twitter that "drunk tank" responsibilities will be returned to police departments, according to news.mn. This means that the government will repeal the law calling for intoxicated people to be sent to hospitals to sober up under the care of doctors and nurses. This law was approved in 2013 and enacted in January 2014.

Number of intoxicated people put in custody reduced

Before the approval of the law, the police were in charge of people who were intoxicated to a state of unconsciousness and drunk people who were involved in crimes or conflicts. Drunk tanks, separate cells designated for detaining heavily intoxicated people, were operated at police departments in the districts. The police used to detain those who were disorderly in public places and people who had violated the rights of children and family members. There have even been incidents of taxi passengers who refused to pay taxi fares, who went to the drunk tanks upon a driver's request.

While drunk tanks were given the name "sober house", they did not provide medical services. Men and women used to be kept naked in separate cells until the following day. People who were detained would be released when they were sober and after paying service fees. If one scolded or argued with policemen, they would pay a higher penalty. Television stations and newspapers used to report that the 18 drunk tanks of the districts would become overloaded during graduation season, after graduation parties, the first days of the new academic year, New Year's Eve, Tsagaan Sar, and on Soldier's Day.

As police departments are not...