Shen Boyang and Jiang Wanan confront each other on drug issues, Luo Yijun emphasizes the cost-effectiveness of clean needles and methadone therapy

Shen Bo was interviewed before sweeping the streets at Yangcaopu Market. (Photo by reporter Chen Yikuan)

Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Boyang of the Democratic Progressive Party and current mayor Chiang Wanan have been attacking and defending the issues of drugs, clean needles and methadone substitution therapy for days. Luo Yijun, director of the Department of Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, who was an infectious disease physician, posted on Facebook in the early morning of the 4th that the research conclusion of the National Taiwan University School of Public Health shows that clean needles and methadone substitution therapy are highly cost-effective in preventing and treating the intravenous drug addiction AIDS epidemic in Taiwan. In this regard, Shen Boyang said that although it has turned into a large-scale health education scene due to the smear campaign by the Blue Camp, it may not be a bad thing. It allows citizens to understand that the harm reduction plan is not only of great help to health but also to overall social security.

Luo Yijun mentioned in the article that the study "Cost-Effectiveness of Clean Needles and Opioid Substitution Therapy in Preventing and Treating the Intravenous Drug Addiction AIDS Epidemic in Taiwan: New Assessment in 2020" pointed out that the two harm reduction strategies prevented a total of 13,664 intravenous drug addicts from being diagnosed with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) from 2005 to 2020. Commonly known as HIV), and cost only 21 billion yuan, but saved 404.1 billion yuan in HIV-related medical expenses; from 2021 to 2040, 10,821 intravenous drug addicts were prevented from being diagnosed with HIV, which will cost 28 billion yuan and save 321.3 billion yuan in HIV-related medical expenses, all of which are highly cost-effective.

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Luo Yijun said that epidemic prevention does not distinguish between blue, green and white. The central and local governments will continue to implement public health policies that can effectively reduce the epidemic and have significant cost-effectiveness (every 1 yuan invested can save 19 yuan in medical expenses).

Shen Boyang said that the risk of HIV infection among drug addicts is much higher than that of ordinary people. If there is a harm reduction plan, it will make a huge difference to public safety. It will be of great help not only to health but also to overall social security. This is why Luo Yijun wants to educate everyone again.

Shen Boyang pointed out that it has now become a large-scale health education site. Although it was caused by the other party's smear campaign, it still makes him a little sad. Many front-line personnel are also angry, but it may not be a bad thing to give everyone a large-scale health education opportunity in this way.

Clean needles and methadol replacement therapy to prevent and treat drug-addicted AIDS Luo Yijun: Highly cost-effective

The Internet turned over the Legislative Yuan's proposal to question the "double standards". Jiang Wanan's Facebook was flooded with 100,000 yuan and his comments could not be deleted.