Ukrainian government to fully finance opioid substitution therapy

The Government of Ukraine has announced that in 2017 it will fully finance from its budget the national opioid substitution therapy programme for people who use drugs, a key population in Ukraine that is at higher risk of HIV infection. Approximately US$ 500 000 will be allocated to enable 8000 people who inject drugs to continue to access the therapy in 2017.

Ukraine has been providing opioid substitution therapy for 12 years with financial support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and technical support from UNAIDS and through key partnerships with civil society organizations. People who use drugs with chronic opioid dependence and participate in the programme receive either methadone-based substitution therapy (tablets or liquid methadone) or buprenorphine tablets. Health-care workers provide daily support and counselling.

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