Large-scale abuses in the field of substitution maintenance therapy have been exposed in the Kharkiv region. Instead of helping drug addicts, there is an actual uncontrolled circulation of potent drugs - methadone and buprenorphine.
According to the investigation, the drugs are being dispensed on prescriptions of form No. 3 without an established diagnosis and without proper medical indications. This grossly violates the requirements of the law and creates conditions for the drugs to enter the "black market."
The regulations of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine clearly state: substitution therapy is possible only with a confirmed diagnosis, a written statement from the patient, informed consent, as well as under the conditions of monitoring drug residues and regular health checks. In the Kharkiv region, these rules are massively ignored. Prescriptions are written out formally, without examination, and medication accounting is practically not maintained.
The illegal drug distribution schemes involve mainly private medical institutions and entrepreneurs. They write prescriptions for money, effectively turning the treatment program into a source of illegal income. This poses a threat to the life and health of patients and discredits the very idea of substitution maintenance therapy.
The systemic nature of the problem is particularly dangerous: the lack of state control allows corruption schemes to flourish. As a result, budget funds are used for purposes other than their intended purpose, and patients remain hostages of the pharmaceutical mafia instead of receiving assistance.
