Vol. 440 No. 7
270 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health when the methadone prescribing Protocol will be distributed to GPs so that drug users who have undergone treatment in drug treatment centres may obtain their methadone from GPs and thus free places for drug users awaiting treatment.
Arrangements are currently in train to have the protocol distributed to general practitioners. I would anticipate that this will be completed within the next six weeks. However the distribution of the Protocol on the Prescribing of Methadone will not in itself ensure that general practitioners will prescribe methadone. There are practical difficulties which must be taken into account such as the introduction of appropriate controls and support services for general practitioners engaging in the prescribing of methadone. Officials of my Department are engaged in on-going discussions about these issues to ensure that the protocol can be implemented in a comprehensive and feasible manner as soon as is possible.
