The work of the ENPUD consultant in Georgia continues amid major changes in the opioid agonist therapy (OAT) delivery system.

Following the closure of private OAT programs and the relocation of public sites outside urban areas, many patients have faced serious barriers to accessing life-saving treatment. For some, this is not merely an inconvenience, but a risk of treatment interruption, deteriorating health, job loss, and return to illicit substance use.

The ENPUD consultant in Georgia is carrying out systematic work to document human rights violations affecting OAT patients. Using monitoring tools, including ReACT, the consultant collects testimonies, analyzes individual cases, and builds an evidence base for further advocacy.
Cases have been documented in which people with disabilities and severe chronic conditions are forced to travel dozens of kilometers every day to receive treatment. There have also been cases of treatment discontinuation due to the inability to protect confidentiality, combine therapy with work, or receive medication for several days at a time.

At the request of the community in Georgia, advocacy work and technical support have been initiated.

The consultant also takes part in coordination meetings with representatives of international organizations, experts, and communities to discuss the situation and identify solutions for protecting the rights of OAT patients.

The analysis shows that these changes are systemic and are leading to widespread violations of the right to health. People with disabilities, patients with chronic illnesses, and working people remain especially vulnerable, as the lack of flexible treatment models creates additional barriers to access.

The collected data and documented cases are becoming an important part of the evidence base for national and international advocacy aimed at protecting the rights of people receiving OAT in Georgia.