Nghe An deploys multi-day supply of Methadone for patients

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

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

Accordingly, in 2023-2024, Nghe An will continue to maintain the implementation of multi-day Methadone dispensing at 12 Methadone treatment facilities deployed in 2022, including 11 facilities under the Department of Health, 01 facility under the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs; expand the implementation of multi-day Methadone dispensing to 18 drug dispensing facilities in the whole province (except for 02 Methadone dispensing facilities at Nghia Dan and Nghi Loc District Medical Centers, which currently have no patients for treatment, will be implemented depending on the actual situation).

The provision of Methadone for many days for patients being treated for opioid addiction in Nghe An province must strictly comply with the provisions of the law, professional and technical instructions of the Ministry of Health and related ministries and branches in all stages; must be under the leadership and direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels; must be strongly mobilized by departments, branches, organizations and the active participation of the whole society.

Methadone is guaranteed from the sourceMethadoneThe province's equipment has been purchased from the local budget. Supplies for the program such as medicine bottles, medicine bags, and current medicine tracking numbers are guaranteed from the Global Fund Project's funding source... The number of people expected to receive multi-day Methadone in 2023 is 595 people; in 2024 it is 1,035 people.

The People's Committee of Nghe An province requests relevant departments, branches, localities and units to strengthen the forms of monitoring the process of using Methadone by patients through many different channels such as directly and indirectly during the process of patients bringing the drug home to use; strictly handle violations in the process of distributing Methadone for many days.

The People's Committee of Nghe An province has also clearly assigned responsibilities to departments, branches and localities in the implementation process. In particular, the Nghe An Department of Health directs the organization of activities of Methadone treatment facilities, and the dispensing of multi-day 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 to implement the activities of the multi-day Methadone distribution plan according to the correct time and implementation roadmap; organize training for service providers and supervise units to deploy Methadone distribution and supervise during the process of patients taking the medicine home to use according to regulations; regularly monitor, inspect, supervise the professional activities of units implementing activities in the plan and evaluate the effectiveness of the plan.

The provincial police directed the police of relevant units and localities to coordinate with functional agencies to step up information and propaganda work on the pilot implementation of providing Methadone for many days in conjunction with propaganda work on drug prevention and control in the province.

In particular, focusing on advising local Party committees and authorities to organize propaganda and mobilize drug addicts and their relatives and families to participate in multi-day treatment of opioid addiction with Methadone.

Direct the police of relevant units and localities to strengthen the fight against and prevention of drug-related crimes; in which, promptly detect, prevent and strictly handle violations of the law related to the implementation of providing Methadone for many days.

At the same time, direct the police of localities where multi-day Methadone is provided to coordinate with health agencies and relevant units in ensuring security and order at treatment facilities and multi-day Methadone distribution./.