– It is unnecessary for the government to blame discrimination and pit patient groups against each other. This is according to general secretary Lilly Ann Elvestad of the Joint Organization for the Disabled (FFO). FFO is Norway’s largest organization for the chronically ill and disabled and has a total of over 350,000 members. Treatment for LAR patients was free until several hospitals introduced a fee for LAR patients of NOK 375 per consultation. Because of that, several patients have dropped out. The Ministry of Health is considering a rule change that will give LAR patients free treatment, but has previously stated that there are a number of dilemmas associated with it. – It will mean differential treatment against other patient groups, said State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng at the time. This is LAR Drug-assisted rehabilitation, also called LAR, is a nationwide treatment program for people who are addicted to opioids, most often heroin. The aim of the treatment is to increase the quality of life of the users and reduce the number of overdoses. The patients undergoing rehabilitation receive morphine-like drugs, either methadone or buprenorphine. Through LAR, the patients will also receive financial guidance and help to find a place to live. There are 8,198 patients in LAR as of 2021. Source: FHI/SERAF/Helse Stavanger Other patient groups are exempt – It is not unusual in the healthcare system for certain groups to be exempt from possessions. Minimum pensioners are, for example, exempt from blue prescriptions, while HIV patients are exempt from psychologist sessions, says Elvestad. It is clear that the government must be able to find a solution quickly. – The consequences for those who are affected by this are great. Bente Karin Dirdal, subject manager in Sandnes, arrives with methadone at Norman Skjæveland’s door. The medicine helps him stay away from heroin. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news FFO receives support from other large patient organisations: the Cancer Society and the National Heart and Lung Disease Association (LHL). – As a patient organisation, we certainly do not want to stand in the way of other patient groups receiving the best possible help. LHL therefore supports this group being exempted from property, says Frode Jahren, general secretary of LHL. Frode Jahren, general secretary of LHL. He believes that bureaucrats and politicians overcomplicate this type of question. – People who are addicted to drugs generally have such weak finances that it should be quite natural that they are exempted from possessions during LAR treatment. He believes that they deserve that their situation be taken seriously, and that arrangements must be made for the best possible health care. – An extra appointed group Secretary General of the Cancer Association, Ingrid Stenstadvold Ross, says that they do not react to the fact that some patient groups get benefits if it helps to ensure that as many people as possible get as good a health offer as possible. The general secretary of the Cancer Association, Ingrid Stenstadvold Ross, gives full support to LAR patients being exempt from co-payment. Photo: Jorunn Valle Nilsen / The Cancer Society – We know that this is a particularly vulnerable group who more often have a demanding economy, who get sick more often and who die earlier. Ronny Bjørnestad, leader of Prolar, a drug specialist and political association for users of LAR and their relatives, says that it is not desirable to characterize LAR patients as a special group. Ronny Bjørnestad, head of Prolar. Photo: Håkon Eliassen – But payment does not work for this patient group. They have many additional challenges, both somatic and psychological, for which they need treatment. Has been free since the start He believes that access to conversations and treatment should therefore be as accessible as possible, in order to catch other challenges, without it costing money. LAR patients who drop out of therapy sessions because it costs money isolate themselves at home. Anxiety and depression get worse. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news He also points out that LAR was a free, government treatment offer from the start. – This is a right and a practice many LAR patients have had for many years. Many have started this treatment when it was free. Starting with property now only contributed to fewer showing up for treatment.
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FFO, the Cancer Society and LHL give the LAR patients full support – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
