Both in Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim, large crowds marched in torchlight processions against what they believe is the destruction of the drug field.
– There are many of us who are demonstrating in Oslo and Trondheim tonight, because we believe that the treatment offer should not only be measured in kroner and øre, but in quality of life and improvement. We need a tender process that values the diverse and knowledgeable work that is carried out in the field, says general manager of Tyrili, Jonas Finnby.
The torchlight procession in Oslo started at the tiger outside Østbanehallen and ended outside the Storting with appeals and slogans.
Thinks the tender must be put on hold
Health south-east announced in mid-October that 14 private players had been offered to enter into an agreement to run drug treatment. Twelve of them are non-profit and two are commercial.
Part of the background is that the so-called free choice of treatment has been discontinued. Instead, Helse south-east has invited tenders for the drug treatment that they believe is needed.
On Wednesday, however, the health authority stated that they have decided to reopen the competition for drug treatment.
Tyrili, who was one of the organizations that took part in the torchlight procession and which was not offered to enter into an agreement to run drug treatment, believes that the tender must be canceled and put on hold until the quality of drug treatment has been investigated.
– Helse south-east’s choice to reopen the tender, without changing the focus from cost to quality, threatens to undermine the work we are set to do, says Finnby.
Asks the Minister to intervene
In a press release from the organizers of the torchlight procession, it is stated that a united addiction field is reacting strongly to the downsizing of treatment services for drug addicts that is happening now.
They fear that as many as 400 long-term 24-hour places could disappear in just two years.
The organizations have previously rallied behind a petition in which they have requested that Minister of Health Jan Christian Vestre (Ap) intervene and save vital services for drug addicts.
The organizers of the torchlight processions were Preventio, Actis, the Main Organization of the Drug Field, the Foreningen for Human Drug Policy, RIO – a nationwide user organization in the drug field, A-alarm Bruker- og Pårørendeorganisation, ProLAR Nett-national association for people in LAR, and Ivareta, Children of Drug Abusers.
– Sick people and their families deserve better
Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg says she was moved to see several thousand people turn up in the torchlight procession.
– It is completely understandable that current and former drug addicts, and their relatives, are sounding the alarm about the downsizing of day care facilities. When someone becomes addicted to drugs, it affects so many more people than the addict himself, she tells NTB.
Solberg says that drugs should still be banned, but that we need a better drug policy in Norway.
– And the thing that burns the most in this area is to stop the reduction of overnight places. The Conservatives believe that those who are ill and their families deserve better.
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**Interview with Jonas Finnby, General Manager of Tyrili**
**Interviewer:** Jonas, thank you for joining us today. Can you tell us more about the recent torchlight processions held in Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim?
**Jonas Finnby:** Thank you for having me. These processions were a significant gathering of people who are concerned about what they perceive as a threat to the quality of drug treatment services in Norway. We believe that treatment should be evaluated based on its impact on quality of life, rather than just its cost. Our message was clear: we need to prioritize the well-being of individuals seeking help over financial considerations.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the decision by Health South-East to reopen the tender for drug treatment services. What are your thoughts on that?
**Jonas Finnby:** It’s a troubling decision. Health South-East’s initial approach included inviting tenders primarily based on cost, which detracts from the quality of care. By reopening the tender process without shifting the focus towards quality, we risk undermining the valuable work done by organizations like ours and others in the field. We firmly believe that any tender process should be paused until an investigation into the quality of drug treatment can be conducted.
**Interviewer:** How does the so-called ‘free choice of treatment’ play into this situation?
**Jonas Finnby:** The discontinuation of the free choice of treatment has greatly impacted patients and organizations alike. It was meant to empower individuals to choose their treatment paths based on personal needs rather than economic factors. The current shift back to tenders for drug treatment seems to disregard this principle and puts more emphasis on attracting profits rather than enhancing patient care.
**Interviewer:** What do you hope to achieve with these demonstrations?
**Jonas Finnby:** We hope to raise awareness about the importance of quality in drug treatment services and urge the authorities to reconsider the current tendering approach. Our goal is to advocate for a system that genuinely values the diverse and knowledgeable work being done in drug treatment, ensuring that those seeking help receive the best possible care.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Jonas. We appreciate your advocacy for better healthcare practices.
**Jonas Finnby:** Thank you for having me, and for bringing attention to this important issue.
