Natalia (name changed) has been living in Poland for a long time. She receives opioid substitution therapy (OST) there, has an established routine for visiting her doctor, and knows where to turn with questions about her treatment. However, she is now planning to return to Ukraine. Among all the issues related to her return, continuing her therapy has become her main priority.

Unlike many Ukrainians who contact the HelpNow service before leaving the country, Natalia needed assistance with the journey in the opposite direction — from Poland back to Ukraine.

She has not yet decided which city she will live in after returning. She is considering three options and wanted to find out in advance where she could access OST and what she would need to do to resume treatment as quickly as possible after arriving.

“I’m still deciding exactly where to return. There are three cities I’m considering. But it’s important for me not just to choose where to live, but also to understand what treatment options are available there. I don’t want to arrive and only then start looking for somewhere to go.”

Natalia contacted the HelpNowHUB Foundation with this request. A consultant gathered information about OST service providers in all three cities she was considering. She provided the addresses of relevant healthcare facilities, links to information resources about OST in Ukraine, and explained which documents Natalia should prepare while still in Poland.

Particular attention was paid to medical documentation. Natalia received a list of the documents she would need to bring with her to make the process of enrolling for continued treatment at a Ukrainian healthcare facility easier after her return.

“The documents were exactly what I was worried about. It’s one thing to know the address of a hospital, but quite another to arrive and discover that I’ve forgotten to bring some certificate from Poland. Now I have a list and can prepare everything while I’m still here.”

In addition, the consultant found a dedicated chat group for OST programme participants, where Natalia can ask questions, communicate with others receiving therapy, and find additional practical information.

For Natalia, this is another way to clarify details while preparing for her return, especially if new questions arise about her chosen city or the procedure for accessing treatment at a healthcare facility.

Natalia is currently still in Poland. She has not made a final decision about which city to return to, but she now has information about available OST service providers, the necessary documents, and contacts that may be useful after her arrival.

“Now I can compare the options and decide where to go. It’s good to know I won’t have to search for all this information once I get there. While I’m still in Poland, I have time to gather the documents, clarify the details, and properly prepare for my return.”

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This publication was prepared by Fundacją HelpNow HUB within the framework of the project “From heart to heart” in partnership with Fundacja Step by Step and Fundacja Res Humanae, with financial support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation.