Accessing opioid substitution therapy (OST) and other harm reduction services for people who use drugs in Kazakhstan is becoming increasingly difficult due to the lockdown measures imposed in response to COVID-19.
People receiving methadone maintenance therapy in Kazakhstan take their daily dosage from the narcology clinics under direct observance of health staff. However, lockdown restrictions introduced on March 18 including restrictions of movement or the elimination of public transport services are making it very difficult for people on OST to get their daily medication and are even putting them at risk of being fined for violating such restrictions.
UNAIDS in cooperation with the Kazakh Association of People Living with HIV, the Kazakhstan Harm Reduction Network, the Republican Scientific Centre for Communicable Diseases and the Republican Scientific Centre of Mental Health have established a working group to find ways for people on OST to receive their essential drug treatment during the lockdown.
UNAIDS and partners put together a list of recommendation to the Ministry of Health which included the creation of special permits for people receiving OST and the extension of opening hours of the methadone sites in the morning, allowing all patients to have enough time to reach them.
As a result, people on OST have received special certificates issued by the public health authorities that allows them to go to the clinic without fear of being fined. Furthermore, a car has been made available by the government to facilitate transportation of people using methadone from their homes to the site and back for free. Additionally, patients might opt for in-patient free hospitalization in the narcology service for the period of lockdown.
UNAIDS is also advocating with the government of Kazakhstan for the establishment of a take-home methadone programme for people who use drugs to be able to receive their treatment on a weekly basis.
