The ISSUP Quality in Treatment Network and ISSUP Pakistan, in collaboration with MNC, UNODC and INL, are pleased to present their webinar on Quality Assurance (QA) of the Drug Treatment Services in Pakistan.

The webinar will bring together a panel of experts who will provide insights into the UNODC Drug Use Disorder Treatment Systems, Quality Assurance Toolkit, five standards, and lessons learnt in four provincial trainings conducted in Pakistan during March 2021 for drug use disorder treatment professionals.

The Ministry of Narcotics Control will be presenting the Government of Pakistan mandate and efforts to deal the issue. ISSUP Pakistan will present on how to plan interventions that address the subject of bringing quality in substance use treatment in line with the WHO/UNODC 2020 International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders.

The following themes will be covered in the webinar:

• 5 system standards for QA of Drug treatment as per the UNODC Drug Use Disorder Treatment Systems, Quality Assurance Toolkit, and a summary of the key findings of the recent national and provincial System QA training in Pakistan.
• Ministry of Narcotics Control (GoP) vision and plans to improve the drug treatment systems in Pakistan. 
• ISSUP Pakistan will be presenting steps and action plan to improve quality of the drug treatment systems in Pakistan through its members network.

Opening Remarks:

1. Ms. Olha Myshakivska, National Chapters Coordinator ISSUP

2. Mr. Sabino Sikandar Jalal, Senior Joint Secretary, Ministry of Narcotics Control, Government of Pakistan

3. Dr. Jeremy Milsom, Country Representative, UNODC Pakistan

4. Ms. Cristian Martinez-LuSane, INL-Pakistan Program Officer, Counternarcotics, Corrections, Rule of Law

Panelists:

On February 23rd, ISSUP Global presented their Webinar on the topic of quality in substance use disorder treatment. This event tied in with the launch of the new 'Quality in Treatment' Network. Details on how you can register to join the network can be found here: https://www.issup.net/training/quality-treatment

This Webinar aimed to increase knowledge of;

• What quality in treatment is
• Why quality in treatment is important
• International initiatives relating to quality in SUD treatment
• Current or ex-service user role in assuring treatment quality

The webinar also aims to encourage participants to join the new Quality in Treatment network and share good practice.

Speakers:

Annette Dale-Perera (chair) - "Introduction to the seminar and the new forum Quality in Treatment" Annette is the Director of adpconsultancy, consultant to UNODC/WHO and Colombo Plan on quality assurance. She has over 35 years experience in substance use disorder treatment as a practitioner, manager, academic, policy maker and national lead in quality.

Charlotte Sisson - “Why Quality in Treatment is Important” Charlotte Sisson is a Senior Foreign Affairs Officer within the Office of Global Programs & Policy in the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

Anja Busse - “Overview of UNODC work on Quality in Treatment’ Anja Busse is a Programme Officer, Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section, Drug Prevention and Health Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Dr. Auwal Salihu - “Nigeria Quality Assurance pilot” Dr Salihu is a consultant psychiatrist and Clinical Director of Aminu Teaching Hospital Kano (Substance Use Disorder services) and Bayero University.

Dr. Akan Ibango - “Nigeria Quality Assurance pilot” Dr Akan Ibango is UNODC country project officer for Nigeria. He is also a clinical psychologist and has worked in substance use treatment in countries including the UK.

Borikhan Shaumarov - “Quality Assurance in 5 Central Asia Countries” Borikhan is the Regional Project Co-ordinator UNODC Central Asia. One of his many projects is leading a programme of work on training and technical support to the five Central Asia countries on quality assurance.

Tim Sampey - “Why Service Users are critical to Quality in Treatment”   Tim is the CEO of ‘Build on Belief’ (BoB) a peer-led service in London that supports people with substance use and mental health problems. He has lived-experience of heroin use and treatment and has played a key role in service user involvement and quality assurance in NHS and charitable SUD services in the UK.

Since the adoption of the first European Drug Strategy 2000–2004, the EU clearly defines drug-related problems as primarily being a Public Health issue. This approach was also endorsed recently by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) countries through the OAS Hemispheric drug strategy 2011–15. In both cases, DDR policies are considered essential to develop a balanced approach in the field of drug policy. The implementation of such a balance is still a challenge for the CELAC region.

COPOLAD brings a unique opportunity to support the CELAC region in the practical implementation of models and principles which are well established in the EU for more than three decades now, in countries that had to face huge challenges and have a good record of successes.

Cooperation, coordination and promotion of synergies will continue with actions in DDR developed by the EMCDDA, the CICAD, the PAHO (Pan-American Health Organisation, World Health Organisation (WHO) office for the Americas), the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) and bi-regional networks of NGOs: RIOD and IDPC. Also, and as started during the first phase, the coordination with other EU funded DDR programmes will be maintained.