The opioid agonist maintenance treatment (OAMT) programme in Kyrgyzstan has two objectives: to provide drug treatment and to prevent HIV infections among people who inject drugs (PWID). This study examines patients’ changing medical and psychosocial needs and provides recommendations for stakeholders on how best to organise collaboration to meet patients’ needs. Methods The study builds upon a retrospective analysis of 3,813 anonymised medical records (2002-2022) and 31 in-depth interviews with three groups of respondents (patients, medical staff, and NGO service providers). Interviews were conducted between December 2022 and April 2023, and focused on patients’ personal and medical history, motivation for OAMT enrolment and patients’ needs. Results Patients’ needs change during treatment. In the first phase, the focus is (...)
