Opioid substitution therapy: ways of implementation in penitentiary institutions.

On March 28, 2018, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Denis Chernyshov, a round table meeting with the participation of international experts was held on the urgent issues of opioid substitution therapy (OST) in penitentiary institutions. ICF Alliance for Public Health was co-organizer of this essential high-level meeting. Crucial issues regarding the prospects for the introduction of OST treatment in prisons, where convicted in accordance with the draft of a new interagency Order which already been drafted, agreed by three relevant Ministries of Ukraine.

At the moment, there are 9 medical institutions under the jurisdiction of the State Criminal Execution Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, which have valid licenses for the circulation of narcotic drugs and on the basis of which OST may be provided. Under the Global Fund’s financial support program Alliance purchases 90 courses of liquid methadone for 2018, 120 courses in 2019 and 180 in 2020. It is also planned to purchase the required amount of manual methadone dispensers for liquid methadone.

The event was attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, representatives from the Public Health Center, the Ukrainian Institute of Public Health Policy, representatives from Ukrainian and international non-governmental organizations: IF “Renaissance”CF “Hope and Trust”, CO “Ukrainian League “Legalife”, PATH, Coalition of HIV-Service Organizations, CF “VOLNA”, NGO “Club Chance”, authorized representatives of USAID, UNODC, international network “Police and HIV” (LEAHN) in Moldova Svetlana Doltu on regional level and Pavlo Skala on Ukrainian  level, director of the International Drug Policy Consorcium (IDPC) – Ann Fordham.