HIV treatment access and scale-up for delivery of opiate substitution therapy with buprenorphine for IDUs in Ukraine—programme description and policy implications

Abstract Background Injection drug use (IDU) accounts for 70 percent of HIV cases in Ukraine. Until buprenorphine maintenance therapy (BMT) was introduced, few effective strategies aimed at achieving reduction in illicit drug use were available as a conduit to anti-retroviral therapy (ARV) among IDUs. Description In October 2005, BMT was scaled-up using Global Fund resources in six regions within Ukraine. Entry criteria included opioid dependence, HIV-1 seropositivity, age ≥18 years and reported interest in BMT. All sites included a multidisciplinary team. To date, 207 patients have been initiated on BMT. Lessons learned The existing infrastructure allows for further scale-up of and administration of BMT and the possibility of co-administration with ARV. The process for prescription and administration of buprenorphine and ARV is at times cumbersome and constrained by current regulations. Recommendations More IDU need BMT to improve overall health outcomes. Central to expanding access will be legislative changes to existing drug policy. Moreover, the cost of buprenorphine is prohibitively expensive. Sustainable substitution therapy in Ukraine requires lower negotiated prices for buprenorphine, the addition of methadone, or both to the existing formulary for HIV+ drug users.