NGO rues unavailability of OST medicine
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 18 2022: Expressing concern over the unavailability of medicine used in Opiod Substitution Treatment (OST) namely Buprenorphine for the second time since the outbreak of "Covid-19 pandemic in the state, Harm Reduction Network Manipur (HRNM), an NGO working to help recovery and rehabilitation of substance abusers, has urged authorities concerned to make sure that the vital medicine is made available at the earliest.

In a joint statement, HRNM convenor Rk Tiken and president H Dinesh said that OPT treatment is conducted to stop Injection Drug Users (IDU) from depending on drugs and to prevent further spread of HIV and Hepatitis C, among others.

Buprenorphine which is used in OPT is not provided to s ervice centres due of exhau stion of stock since January 10.The said medicine is supplied through government and non-government agencies by Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) under the sanction of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), the joint statement pointed out, while expressing apprehension that IDUs will return to drug habits owing to unavailability of the essential medicine.

In such a scenario, the number of HIV cases and other diseases spread through blood transfusion might increase in the state.

Moreover, crimes committed by drug abusers might increase if MACS fails to shoulder the responsibility, he cautioned, while asserting that MACS should bear the consequences and not services providers.

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