Conference on legal regulations and organizational issues on OST

Conference on legal regulations and organizational issues on OST (Opium Substitution Treatment) in Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries has been organized by UNODC in Bishkek, 1-5 September, 2008. Senior managers and official representatives from narcology, HIV/AIDS services, penitentiary system and State Drug Control agencies from Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries participated on this event. Azerbaijan delegation has been represented by Huseynaga Alikhanov- deputy of Head of Penitentiary system Azerbaijan Republic, Shahin Khasiyev- Chief of Epidemiology department AIDS Center, Matanat Garakhanova- Head of National Red Crescent Society, Safyar Isayev – Head of Narcology Department from Republican Narcology Center.

Conference has been devoted to the issues on availability and accessibility of services for IDUs, including existing of effective official policy on OST and its impact on socio-economical situation in the respective countries.

The main issues for discussion and consideration were the provision of technical support and international consultation to the countries for initiation and expansion of OST.

During the event participants have been informed on international experience and approaches on OST including in the prisons. It has been presented common understanding of social and economical significance and role of substitution therapy in the society and family, countries representatives imparted own experience on this issue. Participants gained their knowledge on clinical aspects for OST; treatment and service standards and protocols. Different issues on monitoring and assessment methods and establishment of data collection system have been also raised on the conference.

In spite availability of OST in Azerbaijan from 2004 , its coverage is too law and absolutely is no adequate for targeting on effective result on HIV/AIDS Prevention among IDUs, since OST coverage in Azerbaijan is less than 1%.

During the conference it has been raised several issues on conformity of treatment provided in the participated country with accepted and internationally adopted treatment’s methods, risk and benefits, pro and con on OST, challenges in implementations and expansion in the countries, multifarious points of view/opinion and earned experience/lessons learned from different countries. It has been listened points of view from medical persons, representatives from penitentiary system, officials from drug’s control and law-enforcement agencies as well as OST patients and people living with HIV/AIDS.

During the session participants had working group discussion, where action plan for future acceleration of implementation and expansion of OST as well as time frame has been drafted and presented.

Azerbaijan delegation also made presentations on narcology and OST situations in the country. Delegation has been advised by international consultant on expansion of OST taking into account local circumstances and challenges. It has been received valuable recommendations on consolidation of all inter country efforts, including governmental and nongovernmental sectors, to liven up the work in Health sector through appeal to authorized officials, intensification of implementation OST as well as initiation in penitentiary system through legislation’s amendments and reinforcement of advocacy for representatives from MoJ and MoH.

In the end of session it has been made several recommendations as follow up actions:

- To establish common interregional center on coordination of OST in Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan as well as for provision of methadone and coordination of regional efforts in this regard.

-Grounding and training of national staff for OST (medical staff, social workers and pharmacists). It is preliminary planned to conduct several training for national facilitators training group and trainers

- Re- profiling of Narcology services with taking into consideration contemporary and topical needs and demands on reinforcement of these services as coordination and investigations centers.