Костянтин

KONSTANTIN LEZHENTSEV, MD
Technical Advisor on Drug Policy Reforms and Mental Health Care All-
Ukrainian
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EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
International Organizations Expert in HIV/AIDS, Drug Policy, Harm
Reduction, and Public Health Kyiv, Ukraine |
(UNODC, WHO, USAID, AmFar, OSI, etc.) Email: [відкрити контакти](див. вище в блоці «контактна інформація»)
2010 - Present Location
• Provided technical assistance on HIV, TB, and HCV treatment
access for key populations (PWUDs, PLWHAs) across Eastern
Europe and Central Asia.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Conducted operational research and strategic information
management for programmatic improvements. ​ Harm Reduction Expansion
• Supported national healthcare reforms and integration of Expanded coverage of harm reduction
HIV/TB services. services by 20% in GFATM projects in
• Developed and implemented pilot interventions with Eastern Europe and Central Asia region.
embedded operational research.
​ Access to ART for PWUDs
National organization "100% LIFE" Through continuos technical assistance
(All-Ukrainian Network of PLWHAs) to GFATM projects ensured 60% of active
PWUDs reaching undetectable VL in ART
2023 - Present Ukraine
programs.
• Developed national guidelines on managing chronic pain and
associated mental health conditions with cannabis-based
medications. ​ Healthcare Professionals Training
• Initiated and facilitated a working group under the Ministry of Trained over 200 healthcare workers in
Health on medical cannabis. HIV treatment for PWUDs, TB/HIV/ST
• Conducted a desk review and prepared a policy brief on integrated care, drug policy and mental
MDMA-based therapy for PTSD. health.
• Provided contacts to international companies producing
cannabis-based medications to facilitate their registration in
Ukraine. ​ Influential NPS Report
• Ensured a review of current drug policy legislation to eliminate Published report reaching over 500
barriers for sustainable access to modern PTSD treatment and international readers.
chronic pain management.
• Initiated and facilitated Ministry of Health working group on
reforming current drug policy regulations as part of EU LANGUAGES
integration processes in Ukraine.
English
Proficient

French
Advanced

Ukrainian
Native

SKILLS
Gmail CASB Intellectual Property

Training Programs

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EXPERIENCE PUBLICATIONS
Special Episode The short history of New
Berliner Aids-Hilfe e.V Psychoactive substances in
06/2022 - 03/2023 Berlin, Germany Ukraine
• Peer Advisor and Interpreter for Drug-Using Migrants from www.unodc.org
Eastern Europe Constantine Lezhentsev
• Provided over 150 hours of peer counseling and interpretation
2020
for Ukrainian and Russian-speaking clients, primarily people
https://www.unodc.org/documents/hiv-
who use drugs and those on substitution therapy, many of
aids/publications/People_who_use_drugs/NPS/
whom arrived in Berlin as a result of the war
• Supported clients in medical, therapeutic, and hospital The study stresses an urgent need to
settings, ensuring access to care and social support effectively respond to the appearing of NPS on
• Recognized for high professionalism, deep humanistic values, the drug scene of Ukraine that requires
and unique combination of medical expertise and activism objective vision of the actual impact of NPS
• Contributed significantly to the organization's mission to (and objective understanding of exact NPSs
improve the quality of life for people affected by HIV/AIDS, that are present on the market), clear
especially among marginalized and migrant populations identification of most vulnerable drug-using
• References available upon request groups and commitment from all stakeholders
• Highlight your accomplishments, using numbers if possible. to reform their programmes and ensure
• Pioneer in New Drug Scene Investigation and NPS Research: effective service-delivery to NPS/stimulant
Among the first experts in Ukraine to systematically users.
investigate the emergence and impact of new psychoactive
substances (NPS), including mephedrone and related Name of Article
compounds.
HIV/TB co-infections services gap
• Developed innovative approaches for drug scene monitoring,
harm reduction, and policy response to NPS challenges
analysis
• Contributed to international understanding of NPS trends Analytical report
through research, advocacy, and technical assistance 2014
• Authored the influential report, "The Short History of New https://tbonline.groundup.org.za/posts/2014/9/1
Psychoactive Substances in Ukraine," published by the United 2/new-report-analyses-gaps-tbhiv-services-
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC): ukraine/
https://www.unodc.org/documents/hiv- USAID-funded STBCU project (implemented by
aids/publications/People_who_use_drugs/NPS/STUDYU_1a_W Chemonics International) and its partner the
EB_29_04.pdf Global Tuberculosis Institute at Rutgers, the
State University of New Jersey (GTBI) provided
Special Episode in-depth reserach and published the report that
presents the best practices and successful
UNODC consultancy approaches from the project’s 10 target regions
2019 - 2020 Odessa, Ukraine and lessons learned that can inform developing
• Pioneered new drug scene investigation and NPS research in plans and approaches to improve both TB and
Ukraine, becoming one of the first experts to systematically HIV management practices in Ukraine.
study the emergence and impact of new psychoactive
substances (NPS), including mephedrone and related Name of Article
compounds.
• Developed innovative approaches for drug scene monitoring, Training module Access to HIV care and
harm reduction, and policy responses to NPS challenges. treatment for people who inject
• Contributed to the international understanding of NPS trends drugs(PWID)
through research, advocacy, and technical assistance. Constantine Lezhentsev/Olga Denisiuk
• Authored the influential report 'The Short History of New
2015
Psychoactive Substances in Ukraine,' published by the United https://www.aidsdatahub.org/sites/default/files/
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). resource/training-module-access-hiv-care-and-
treatment-pwid-2014.pdf
The three days training module is designed for
organisations working with PWID aiming to
improve access to care and treatment for
people who inject drugs living with HIV.

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EXPERIENCE PUBLICATIONS
Head of Treatment Department Name of Article
All-Ukrainian Network of PLWHAS Delivering HIV care and treatment for
2003 - 2007 Kyiv, Ukraine people who is drugs: Lessons from
GFATM Principal Recipient research and practice
• Responsible for setting up a new department in the Network Open Society Institute/Public Health Program,
with a specific focus on treatment and PSM. 2005
• Expertise in recruitment of personnel, staff training, ToR https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/upload
development, and overall management of the department, s/1acae9eb-829f-4ad9-8b52-
including initial stage under crisis management conditions. ae46e7a537a2/delivering_20060724.pdf
• Developed the PSM strategy for the GFATM 6th round Published by the International Harm Reduction
proposal with a focus on capacity building of the new PSM Development (IHRD) of the Open Society
department at the Network, training and coaching of the new Institute (OSI), this 90-page report aims to
team, and a specific plan of PSM transfer from the Network to detail successful efforts from around the world
the Ministry of Health. to offer drug users antiretroviral treatment
• Organized the grant management process for the treatment (ARV) and the dangers of failing to do so.
component of the GFATM grant, including tender
announcements, selection criteria, and monitoring and
evaluation criteria.
• Developed and introduced the integrated care concept in
OTHER CONSULTANCY WORK
Ukraine for IDU clients, TB-DOTS/HIV pilot projects, and other
innovative sites focusing on optimizing care for marginalized Consultant on Procurement and
clients. Supply Management (PSM)
• Introduced an outreach strategy for express diagnostics (HIV, 2014 - 2016 CIS countries
HCV), vaccination (HBV), and case management for KPMG
marginalized categories of patients.
• Provided an analysis of the reasonableness
• Developed a national policy for the prevention of HIV among
of costs of the health products for
IDUs, integrating prevention and treatment approaches, and
procurement in terms of GFATM project
guidelines for scaling up rapid HIV testing.
applications (health products, medicines,
• Worked regularly with the Ministry of Health on reforming the
laboratory, and diagnostics).
procurement system and establishing transparent
mechanisms of PSM for ARVs and substitution treatment
medications. Consultant, TB/HIV Co-infection
• Developed regular reports to GFATM on performance in the Program USAID
treatment component.
2013 - 2014 Ukraine
TB/HIV Co-infection Program USAID-funded
Program Officer Project
Open Society Institute • Conducted an analytical review of the data
2003 - 2007 Budapest, Hungary collected from individual interviews and
• Primary responsibility for IHRD policy initiative in Georgia, focus groups, developing recommendations
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine and Tajikistan. for improving TB/HIV services for people
• Developing prevention strategy and outreach express-testing with dual diagnoses.
standards for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
• Responsibility for overseeing IHRD’s regional initiative on HIV Consultant, Access to Treatment
treatment and ensuring that the experience of IHRD is and Intellectual Property European
incorporated into treatment components of the national HIV
programmes.
and Central Asian
• Establishment and management of Treatment (ARV4IDU) 2011 - 2013 CIS region
teams in each focus country, including National Soros Union of PLWHAs (ECUO)
Foundations and key partners. Responsible for selecting • Expert review of the report “Access to
personnel, team building, and education. Treatment and Implementation of the TRIPS
• Programme development and support: review of proposals, flexibilities in national legislation in Georgia,
development of technical assistance plans for projects, Moldova, Ukraine, and Belarus”.
monitoring implementation, and reviewing reports. • Reviewed the texts of FTA agreements in
Georgia and Moldova and developed open
letters to the heads of EU negotiation
groups (Prime Ministers) on behalf of
treatment activists.
• Provided technical assistance to Moldova
and Georgia working groups in developing
draft regulatory acts on implementing
“compulsory licensing”.

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EXPERIENCE OTHER CONSULTANCY WORK
Medical Assistant International Consultant on HIV
Head of Mission Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Policy and Advocacy Various
2000 - 2004 Kyiv,Ukraine International
• Development of the pilot PMTCT project in Southern Ukraine 2007 - 2011 Location
(nevirapine-based regimen). Various International Organizations
• Setting up a satellite office in Odessa: recruitment, education, • Developing a toolkit for the assessment of
and teambuilding of two medical and two non-medical access to treatment situations in the region
personnel. of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, with a
• Implementation of peer principles in the PMTCT project. specific focus on access to sustainable ARV
• Coordinating relations with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine treatment for marginalized communities.
and the Care and Treatment working group. • Providing technical assistance in
• Development of the pilot project on Care and Treatment in the establishing effective procurement models
Southern Region of Ukraine. for ARVs and TB medications for the GFATM
• Working out protocols with the medical team for Prevention project in CIS countries.
and Treatment of Opportunistic infections and ARV therapy. • Conducting an assessment of Harm
• Organizing procurement for PMTCT medications, including Reduction projects and treatment access
registration, customs clearance, and storage. situations in Kyrgyzstan.
• Organizing a cold chain supply of blood samples to the • Providing technical assistance to advocates
Netherlands to perform PCR-quality tests. in India on Free Trade Agreements and
• Evaluation of the Ukrainian generic pharmaceutical industry access to treatment, including treatment
and assisting MSF pharmacists in the approval of Ukrainian literacy sessions and advocacy strategy
factories. planning.
• From 2000, acting as MSF’s 'Access to Essential Drugs • Providing technical assistance to Kenya for
Campaign' field liaison person. Harm Reduction piloting as part of the
Community Action on Harm Reduction
ACTIVISM AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION (CAHR) project implemented by the
Company Name International HIV/AIDS Alliance, including
community mobilization, an integrated
Date period Location
prevention and treatment approach, and the
• EATG/ECAB (European Community Advisory Board) – most effective outreach models.
Responsible for organizing TB, HIV, and HCV focused • Providing technical assistance to Malaysia
meetings with the pharmaceutical sector. for establishing effective community-based
• Provided technical assistance in establishing and developing projects on TB control among PWUDs as
the All-Ukrainian Network of PLWHAs (100% LIFE). part International AIDS Alliance TA mission.
• Contributed to WHO "3by5" initiative by developing first
HAART startup guidelines for PWUD treatment and care
standards for over 16 countries by 2010..
• Founding member of the International Treatment
Preparedness Coalition, CIS region liaison person.
• Member of the international coalition of HCV treatment
advocates (OSF, International AIDS Alliance, TAG/TTAG, Act
Up).
• Founding member of the Ukrainian Community Advisory Board
(UCAB), later transformed into "Patients of Ukraine", Board
member of the "Patients of Ukraine" (2010-2013), acting
member of the "Patients of Ukraine".
• Member of the Ministerial Working Group and Parliamentary
Group on "Medical Cannabis" in Ukraine.
• Organized over 25 TB, HIV, and HCV meetings with
pharmaceutical stakeholders via EATG/ECAB.
• Co-founded International Treatment Preparedness Coalition
serving CIS as liaison person.

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