Trajectory and progress of opioid agonist therapy programs in the Kyrgyz Republic

The incidence and mortality of human immunodeficiency viruses (HIVs) are rising in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), particularly among people who inject drugs. Opioid agonist therapies (OATs), such as methadone or buprenorphine, are the most effective treatments for opioid use disorder and serve as a key HIV-prevention strategy in EECA. OAT uptake across the region, however, has been limited. The Kyrgyz Republic was the first Central Asian country to initiate OAT and remains a pioneer in the region. To understand the progression of OAT scale-up, all legislations related to drug policies or methadone in the Kyrgyz Republic were analyzed from the country's founding to March 2023 and compared with policies in neighboring countries, particularly Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. Concurrently, local news coverage and policy reports were also assessed. OAT has been available in the Kyrgyz Republic since 2001, initially as a pilot project funded by international donors, and then with gradually increasing state support. Since its inception, the methadone program has evolved and influenced neighboring countries in Central Asia, despite numerous political challenges. The Kyrgyz Republic has expanded access to methadone, revised clinical protocols, and increased the number of distribution sites in communities and the carceral system to ensure broader access, aiming for program sustainability. While methadone policies and implementation in the Kyrgyz Republic have advanced earlier and more expansively than in neighboring countries, some challenges persist. Based on the findings, the suggestions provided may support the sustainable scale-up of methadone programs, enabling continued growth and improvement.