Mental Health & Substance Use: Injectable Opioid Agonist Therapy & Tablet Injectable Opioid Agonist Therapy
Solicitation number BC1336
Publication date
Closing date and time 2022/07/08 17:00 EDT
Description
**All enquiries related to this Request for Proposal are to be directed, in writing, to the following person. Information obtained from any other source is not official and should not be relied upon. Enquiries and any responses will be recorded and may be distributed to all Proponents at the Island Health’s option. Contact person is Diane Laskey email Diane.Laskey@islandhealth.ca
On April 14, 2016, the BC Provincial Health Officer declared a Public Health emergency under the Public Health Act in response to increasing overdoses and overdose deaths. Unfortunately the toxic drug poisoning crisis is ongoing and escalating, and British Columbia is currently experiencing the highest rate of deaths due to overdose in any year to date. The rise in deaths remains driven by the toxicity of drugs, with variable, and up to lethal concentrations of illicit fentanyl, as well as other central nervous system-depressing contaminants such as benzodiazepines. Two of the identified interventions for people who inject opioids are injectable opioid agonist therapy (iOAT) and tablet injectable opioid agonist therapy (TiOAT). These interventions provide injectable pharmaceutical grade alternatives to the illicit drug supply. Medications available for iOAT/TiOAT at this time include hydromorphone and diacetylmorphine. The goals of iOAT/TiOAT are to reduce drug-related harms including injuries and deaths, connect individuals to health and social supports, and improve the overall health for people receiving the iOAT/TiOAT medications.
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a chronic relapsing/remitting condition associated with significantly elevated rates of morbidity and mortality. This necessitates a pragmatic, holistic approach to keeping people safe. There is significant evidence showing opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is a safe and effective intervention to reduce the use of the toxic illicit supply , while also reducing morbidity and mortality, particularly when complimented by psychosocial interventions. iOAT/TiOAT is a higher intensity intervention on the continuum of care for people with OUD who have not had sufficient benefit from other treatments. Expanding access to iOAT/TiOAT as a treatment option reduces reliance of individuals on the toxic drug supply and provides links to other health, treatment services, and social supports. iOAT/TiOAT “Participants” will be identified by local clinicians, physicians, service providers and through self-referral and will undergo screening to determine suitability for the program.
Island Health is seeking proposals from a community-based provider to provide iOAT and TiOAT in Nanaimo. The successful proponent will provide the staffing, physician services, and clinic space for the services. The services will include active referral pathways to a range of health services and social supports and will be tailored to meet the needs and goals of Participants. Island Health will provide the prescribed iOAT/TiOAT medications through the Island Health pharmacy. This RFP is being issued at the same time as the RFP for Prescribed Safer Supply in the hopes of securing a sustainable service and potentially leveraging the Prescribed Safer Supply contract.
Please refer to RFP documents for further details.
On April 14, 2016, the BC Provincial Health Officer declared a Public Health emergency under the Public Health Act in response to increasing overdoses and overdose deaths. Unfortunately the toxic drug poisoning crisis is ongoing and escalating, and British Columbia is currently experiencing the highest rate of deaths due to overdose in any year to date. The rise in deaths remains driven by the toxicity of drugs, with variable, and up to lethal concentrations of illicit fentanyl, as well as other central nervous system-depressing contaminants such as benzodiazepines. Two of the identified interventions for people who inject opioids are injectable opioid agonist therapy (iOAT) and tablet injectable opioid agonist therapy (TiOAT). These interventions provide injectable pharmaceutical grade alternatives to the illicit drug supply. Medications available for iOAT/TiOAT at this time include hydromorphone and diacetylmorphine. The goals of iOAT/TiOAT are to reduce drug-related harms including injuries and deaths, connect individuals to health and social supports, and improve the overall health for people receiving the iOAT/TiOAT medications.
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a chronic relapsing/remitting condition associated with significantly elevated rates of morbidity and mortality. This necessitates a pragmatic, holistic approach to keeping people safe. There is significant evidence showing opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is a safe and effective intervention to reduce the use of the toxic illicit supply , while also reducing morbidity and mortality, particularly when complimented by psychosocial interventions. iOAT/TiOAT is a higher intensity intervention on the continuum of care for people with OUD who have not had sufficient benefit from other treatments. Expanding access to iOAT/TiOAT as a treatment option reduces reliance of individuals on the toxic drug supply and provides links to other health, treatment services, and social supports. iOAT/TiOAT “Participants” will be identified by local clinicians, physicians, service providers and through self-referral and will undergo screening to determine suitability for the program.
Island Health is seeking proposals from a community-based provider to provide iOAT and TiOAT in Nanaimo. The successful proponent will provide the staffing, physician services, and clinic space for the services. The services will include active referral pathways to a range of health services and social supports and will be tailored to meet the needs and goals of Participants. Island Health will provide the prescribed iOAT/TiOAT medications through the Island Health pharmacy. This RFP is being issued at the same time as the RFP for Prescribed Safer Supply in the hopes of securing a sustainable service and potentially leveraging the Prescribed Safer Supply contract.
Please refer to RFP documents for further details.
Contract duration
Refer to the description above for full details.
Trade agreements
-
Please refer to tender description or tender documents
Contact information
Contracting organization
- Organization
-
Vancouver Island Health Authority
- Email
- diane.laskey@islandhealth.ca
Bidding details
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