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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 2

Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

63 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress, if any, to date on implementing the protocol on the prescribing and dispensing of methadone; the timescale for the implementation of the outstanding recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5787/98]

The Deputy will be aware that the report on the Methadone Treatment Services Review Group was published on 19 January 1998 and circulated nationwide to each general practitioner and pharmacist.

The report's recommendations include the following: the continuation of the central treatment list of patients being prescribed methadone — under this arrangement a general practitioner who is considering prescribing methadone for a patient can check whether the patient's name is on this treatment list and so minimise the possibility that the patient concerned is receiving methadone from more than one source; the provision of a personalised treatment card to each patient — this card is, in turn, presented to a local pharmacist who holds it for the duration of treatment; support to general practitioners and pharmacists through the appointment of a general practitioner facilitator, including close liaison and communication arrangements with health board services in the event of a patient destabilising; contractual arrangements with general practitioners, pharmacists, etc.; the provision for supervised administration of methadone in cases where a general practitioner feels the need for this; the introduction of regulations to require that the prescription and supply of methadone be restricted to official prescription forms specifically designed for the purpose; specific training and information for general practitioners and pharmacists on the treatment of opiate dependent persons; and methadone monitoring to be placed on a statutory basis by regulation under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
A committee, comprised of representatives from the Eastern Health Board, the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, the General Medical Services (Payments) Board and the Department of Health and Children, is working on implementing the recommendations contained in the report. The committee meets on a regular basis to work on the arrangements to allow for the smooth implementation of all the recommendations. The committee is considering the timescale for implementation of the recommendations and I have requested my Department's officials who are on the committee and working in conjunction with the Eastern Health Board to provide details of the time schedule to me as soon as it is available.
The committee's main objective will be to ensure that all general practitioners and pharmacists providing methadone treatment do so in accordance with the arrangements in the report. I am confident that the implementation of the recommendations in the group's report will result in strict control of the prescribing and dispensing of methadone in the treatment of opiate misuse.
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