Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 5

Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.

Liz O'Donnell

Ceist:

53 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health whether the negotiations with the Irish Medical Organisation have concluded in relation to the involvement of general practitioners in the provision of drug treatment services; if not, the issues outstanding; whether these issues will be finalised in order to meet the urgent need to improve drug treatment facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11878/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East: The report of the Expert Group on a Protocol for the Prescribing of Methadone set out recommendations for the manner in which general practitioners should become involved in the provision of methadone maintenance programmes for drug misusers. The Irish College of General Practitioners was represented on the expert group, because of its role in training and continuing medical education for general practitioners. My Department has had regular discussions with representatives of the college on involving general practitioners in prescribing methadone in accordance with the Protocol. Arising from these discussions a pilot project, which would involve referring 100 estabilised drug misusers from drug treatment centres to general practitioners, commenced in March of this year. To date 40 such patients have been referred in this manner and the intention is to increase this number as soon as possible. It is intended also that the pilot project will be evaluated after a period of six months in operation.

In the interim, during the course of an address to the annual general meeting of the Irish College of General Practitioners, I appealed for the help of the college in encouraging general practitioners to become involved. I am glad to say that the college responded positively to my appeal and has committed itself to actively supporting my Department in its efforts. To this end further discussions are now being held with the college to identify any issues which might represent a barrier to progress with involving general practitioners in the treatment of drug misusers.

The issue is on the agenda for discussion between the Irish Medical Organisation and my Department and I understand that the Organisation proposes to await the evaluation of the pilot project before seeking to agree payments and conditions which would apply nationally.

In addition to the numbers to be treated as I have outlined there are approximately 700 addicts being maintained on methadone by 25 general practitioners. Efforts are now being made to bring these patients and doctors within the ambit of the Protocol and I welcome this.

Progress is being made but not as quickly as I would like and it was because of this that I made my appeal to the Irish College of General Practitioners for more general practitioners to become involved and I am confident that this will happen. In the meantime the Eastern Health Board has initiated a number of alternative ways for involving general practitioners such as having them actually work in the community drug centres or in other health board premises such as health centres.

The Government decided as part of its decisions on a package of measures to reduce the demand for drugs, which was announced on 20 February, that the greater involvement of general practitioners in the provision of services for drug misusers would be crucial. It is my aim, therefore, to seriously address any issues which are a cause of concern to general practitioners and which may be making them reluctant to become involved.