The Health Policy Project ended in 2016. Work continued under Health Policy Plus (HP+) until 2022.

E&E Region

Overview

Eastern Europe and Eurasia (E&E) is currently experiencing one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the world with approximately 1.5 million people in the region living with HIV—a 66% increase from 2001. Unsafe injecting drug use continues to drive transmission, particularly in countries such as Russia, where some cities report that more than half of persons who inject drugs (PWIDs) are HIV-positive. The E&E region is also experiencing a “feminization” of the epidemic, where it is estimated that 85 percent of women living with HIV acquired it through unsafe drug use or sex with a PWID.

What We Do

In Eastern Europe and Eurasia, the Health Policy Project (HPP) is working to expand analysis and advocacy resources for PWID-related policies and programs as part of an overall effort to strengthen HIV policy and prevention throughout the region.

Develop PWID Policy Decision Model

In collaboration with the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network, HPP has developed a PWID Policy Decision Model—a policy and advocacy toolkit that aligns international and regional priorities to address the most crucial needs of PWIDs in Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and Central Asian countries. The decision model targets advocates, service providers, and policymaking bodies such as country coordination mechanisms and national AIDS councils that are interested in understanding the core policy requirements for effective PWID services.

The PWID policy model also incorporates additional PWID-related services of needle and syringe exchange programs, HIV counseling and testing, and key medical services, including antiretroviral treatment, medication-assisted therapy, and screening and treatment for hepatitis C virus and tuberculosis. The toolkit identifies core policy issues and will help create an enabling policy environment that supports access, quality, and use of services—ultimately broadening the response to HIV.

Recent Progress and Achievements

In collaboration with the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network, HPP has designed a policy decision model focused on persons who inject drugs (PWID), which provides extensive information on the policy barriers to services for PWID with particular emphasis on issues relevant to in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Publications and Resources

Policy Analysis and Advocacy Decision Model for Services for People Who Inject Drugs

News

PWID Policy Analysis and Advocacy Decision Model Released

Partners

Eurasian Harm Reduction Network