Beirut April 2011

Beirut April 2011

Beirut April 2011

Beirut April 2011

Beirut April 2011

Beirut April 2011

Harm Reduction Coalition Policy Statement

on Auto-Disable Syringes

Dr Sharon Stancliff, Medical Director - New York Office

Auto-disable syringes

• WHO-UNICEF-UNFPA joint statement (1999)– By the end of 2003, all countries should use only auto-

disable syringes for administering all immunizations

• UNICEF (2001)– No longer enter into procurement contracts for standard

disposable syringes

• WHO guidelines for single use syringes (2007)– Reuse prevention syringes prequalify for procurement

WHO: Safe syringes for injection safety

1. Reuse Prevention Feature

a) Auto-disable b) Breaking plunger

2. Reuse and Needle Stick Prevention Features

a) Needle Stick Prevention b) Retractable syringes

Issues

• Several countries moving towards exclusive import of auto-disable syringes

• Syringe procurement strategies that don’t take the needs of PWID into account

• Difficulty of “being heard” in countries where PWID don’t have a voice

Unintended consequences

Reduced availability of standard disposable syringes

Auto-disable syringes generally not suited to drug preparation and injection

Modification of auto-disable syringes

Difficult to effectively clean

Circumvent auto-disable feature by sharing before plunger fully depressed

Syringes Used by IDUs Vary in Size and Design

Low dead High dead space space

Vietnam – HDSS 3ml detachable needle (Front loading)