April 7. at the symposium on methadone by the National Committee for Aids prevention and combat drug-prostitution organizations, Ministry of Health has published the results of evaluating the pilot implementation of the scheme treatment of opiate drug methadone in Haiphong and Ho Chi Minh.

Accordingly, from January to September-2009 have 1753 patients treated with this method, 95,5% of patients continue to participate after the first 9 month of treatment. Most of patients treated achieved good results, side-effects of drugs decrease (from 82% in 3 months by 50% in late May 9^th. In 9 months of treatment does not have any cases of HIV, hepatitis B,C, rate of patients experiencing health problems decreased from 9.7% to 4.9%, patients with depression reduced from 80% to 5%, particularly, the proportion of patients have law violations dropped from 40% to just under 3%.

According to the Ministry of Health, is expected in the period  2010-2015, will implement a program to expand treatment of opiate substitute drug methadone to 80.000 people in 30 provinces and cities nationwide.