UNODC facilitates discussion on accessibility of analgesics by public in Kyrgyzsta

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Programme office in the Kyrgyz Republic, with financial help from the Government of Japan, supported the State Coordination Committee on Drug Control (SCCDC) in organization of a working group meeting, devoted to availability of analgesics, held on 18 December 2020, Karakol, Issyk-Kul region.

The meeting brought together representatives of government of Issyk-Kul oblast, law enforcement agencies, physicians and pharmacists. 

Mr. A.I. Kelgenbaev, from the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Issyk-Kul region, noted the importance of the issue under discussion and expressed readiness to provide the necessary support in this area.

“The current legislation on the accessibility to opioid drugs by population in the form of analgesics is outdated and does not fully meet the requirements of Conventions of the 1961, 1971 and 1988. The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) notes that the availability of morphine in the Kyrgyz Republic is below the so-called “red line” (minimum provision rate). Less than 50 percent of morphine is imported from the 5 kilograms quota, which has a major impact on ensuring the human right to pain relief”, highlighted Mr. Timur Isakov, Executive Secretary of the State Drug Control Coordination Committee.  

 

 “In accordance with the 1961 single convention on narcotic drugs, UNODC supports the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in ensuring the accessibility to opioid drugs for medical purposes”, said Mr. Andrey Seleznev, Head of the UNODC Programme office in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The discussions resulted in a set of opinions and recommendations on further improvement of the regulatory frameworks, particularly in licensing system and treatment - all elements, necessary for elimination of barriers and ensuring availability of analgesics for patients.

They also discussed ways of overcoming the barriers in accessibility of analgesics to patients. Important to note that the pilot project of electronic prescription of recipes was introduced in Issyk-Kul oblast in 2019 and main outcome of its operation is the simplification of process of prescribing the pain relief opioids to the patients and receipt of drugs.

 

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