Compared implementation of the long-acting buprenorphine treatment buvidal in four European countries

Figures & data

Table 1. Questions asked to the four different experts, representing four different European countries, about Buvidal and its implementation in their country.

What is the overall percentage of Buvidal in all OUD treatment and all types of buprenorphine in the past 3 years?
(2) Can you describe the medication circuit of Buvidal in your country (who can prescribe and deliver it? How is it reimbursed? Are there obstacles in the medication circuit that restrains the access to Buvidal®?)
(3) Compared to how methadone and sublingual buprenorphine are prescribed and dispensed in your country has the arrival of Buvidal on the national market changed the way patients access treatment?
(4) Apart from the 4 above-mentioned expected conditions addressed (first treatment access, leaving prison or inpatient detoxification, unstable patients diverting a previous OAT, stable patients tired of every day treatment use) have you prescribed Buvidal for other clinical situations?
(5) Are other types of patients receiving Buvidal?
(6) What future challenges do you identify regarding the implementation of Buvidal in your country ?

Table 2. Synthesis of the main results regarding the situation of Buvidal in the United Kingdom, Finland, Spain, and France, respectively.

	United Kingdom	Finland	Spain	France
Proportion of people on OAT treated with Buvidal. In 2022	~2.1%	~60–65%	~1%	0.3%
Reimbursement of Buvidal by the national health insurance system	Yes	Yes	No	No
Buvidal prescribers	Any physicians, and non medical prescribers (nurses, pharmacists) with additional training	Specialized health care units	Specialized health care units	Specialized health care units
Dispensation of Buvidal in community pharmacies	Yes	No	No	No
Impact of Buvidal marketing on access to treatment	Reduction in the attendance of dispensation centers	Increase in the accessibility of OAT	No real impact	No real impact
Main categories of public concerned by Buvidal	All public with OUD	Buvidal is now the first-line OAT in the country	Incarcerated patients, those with limited compliance	Incarcerated patients, OAT diversion, stable patients
Future challenges about Buvidal in the country	Increasing drug storage facilities in clinics and pharmacies	No real challenge	Lifting regulatory barriers that restrain the access to Buvidal	Lifting regulatory barriers that restrain the access to Buvidal

OAT: opioid agonist treatment.

OUD: opioid use disorder.