Nghe An province is implementing a program to provide Methadone for patients over several days.

On September 18th, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Plan No. 684/KH-UBND to implement the provision of multi-day Methadone treatment for patients with opioid addiction in Nghe An province, for the period 2023-2024.

The plan was issued to facilitate, increase access to, and improve the quality of opioid addiction treatment services using Methadone, contributing to reducing HIV transmission and improving the health and quality of life for opioid addicts.

Accordingly, in the two years 2023-2024, Nghe An will continue to maintain the multi-day Methadone dispensing program at the 12 Methadone treatment facilities that were established in 2022, including 11 facilities under the Department of Health and 1 facility under the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs; and expand the multi-day Methadone dispensing program to 18 dispensing facilities throughout the province (the two Methadone dispensing facilities at Nghia Dan and Nghi Loc District Health Centers, which currently have no patients, will be implemented depending on the actual situation).

The provision of Methadone for extended periods to patients undergoing treatment for opioid addiction in Nghe An province must strictly adhere to legal regulations, professional and technical guidelines from the Ministry of Health and relevant ministries and agencies at all stages; it must be under the leadership and direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels; it must involve strong mobilization of departments, organizations, and the active participation of the entire society.

Methadone is sourced from a reliable supplier.MethadoneThe province's supplies were purchased from the local budget. Materials for the program, such as medicine bottles, medicine bags, and current medication tracking records, were secured from the Global Fund Project's funding… The number of people expected to receive multi-day Methadone treatment in 2023 is 595; and in 2024 is 1,035.

The People's Committee of Nghe An province requests relevant departments, localities, and units to strengthen various forms of monitoring the use of Methadone by patients through different channels, both direct and indirect, during the process of patients taking the medication home for use; and to strictly handle cases of violations during the dispensing of Methadone over several days.

The People's Committee of Nghe An province has also clearly assigned responsibilities to departments, agencies, and localities in the implementation process. Specifically, the Nghe An Department of Health is responsible for directing the operation of Methadone treatment facilities and ensuring the dispensing of multi-day doses of medication to patients in accordance with the professional regulations of the Ministry of Health.

The Provincial Center for Disease Control is the permanent unit, acting as the focal point for implementing the multi-day Methadone dispensing plan according to the schedule and roadmap; organizing training for service providers and supervisors to ensure that units dispensing Methadone and monitoring patients during the process of taking the medication home for use as prescribed; regularly monitoring, inspecting, and supervising the professional activities of the units implementing the plan and evaluating the plan's effectiveness.

The provincial police directed police units and relevant localities to coordinate with functional agencies to strengthen information and communication efforts regarding the pilot program of dispensing Methadone for multiple days, in conjunction with drug prevention and control propaganda in the province.

This includes focusing on advising local Party committees and authorities to organize propaganda and mobilization efforts to encourage drug addicts and their relatives and families to participate in multi-day methadone treatment for opioid addiction.

Directing police units and relevant localities to strengthen the fight against drug-related crimes; in particular, promptly detecting, preventing, and strictly handling violations of the law related to the multi-day distribution of Methadone.

At the same time, local police forces in areas where multi-day Methadone dispensing is being implemented are directed to coordinate with health agencies and relevant units in ensuring security and order at treatment and Methadone dispensing facilities.