$6M funding confirmed for IOAT program
Opioid agonist treatment will continue on two-year grant for existing clients
The Alberta government will continue to fund injectable opioid agonist treatment (IOAT) for existing clients, Postmedia learned Tuesday, amid an ongoing lawsuit challenging the government's decision to close specialized clinics by month's end.
Two Alberta Health Services (AHS) employees with knowledge of IOAT said the funding was announced Tuesday morning during an online conference call.
“What we were told this morning is the service they are currently giving clients at IOAT is going to continue under a two-year grant from AHS with no change to service for existing clients,” one employee said. “Treatment will remain the same. Staffing will remain the same.”
Postmedia has agreed not to name the two employees.
Kassandra Kitz, press secretary to Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jason Luan, later confirmed in a statement the UCP is committing more than $6 million over two years to provide IOAT in Opioid Dependency Program (ODP) clinics.
The decision comes one day after Edmonton lawyer Avnish Nanda, who represents 11 opioid-use disorder patients, appealed a court ruling last week that denied an injunction application to force the province to continue providing this treatment.
As of April 1, the program will no longer be called IOAT but will be under the umbrella of the province's ODP, the AHS employees said. The programs will be merged, although the IOAT program will maintain its independent services.
“It's a tremendous weight lifted. Someone is listening and the clients who need the most help are actually being heard,” said one employee. “This is a huge win for clients living with opioid dependency. If we wouldn't have had a court challenge, in my opinion, I don't think we would be having this conversation.”
No new clients will be accepted for IOAT.
“We are ridiculously successful with the clients that we are treating but we are failing everyone that we are not,” said one AHS staff member.
The IOAT programs in Calgary and Edmonton provide a form of treatment for people with opioid use disorder for whom oral treatments, such as methadone or Suboxone, have been unsuccessful.
It has been described as “the last chance for recovery.”
Nanda said the funding is “incredible news” and shows what is possible when Albertans come together to push back on injustices.
“It's important to acknowledge the strength, resiliency and sacrifice made by IOAT patients to fight this every step of the way,” he said.
“We have IOAT patients that have died. We have IOAT patients that have contracted HIV as a result of what has occurred. You can't turn back the clock on what has happened, but we're optimistic in terms of the future.”
Nanda said he has not yet heard from the government's lawyers, so he's unsure what will come of the pending lawsuit.
“If it's what's being presented, then most of the issues in the lawsuit are being resolved,” he said.
The legal challenge alleges the UCP government's decision to scrap funding for IOAT by the previously stated date of March 31 breached patients' protected rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Nanda said his clients are going to continue to fight for others to be able to access the program, “but forcing the government to step back on its proposal is an achievement worth celebrating.”
There are now 88 total clients in the program, with 44 each in Calgary and Edmonton, according to AHS. In Calgary, IOAT will move into the ODP clinic at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, AHS said in a statement. In Edmonton, the ODP will move into the IOAT clinic, which is about three blocks away. Planning and timing of these moves is underway.
The health agency confirmed no job losses will result from the transition.