Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:167 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the numbers of drug addicts in the Dublin area currently attending general practitioners; and the numbers attending local health centres. [22008/98]
Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.
The total number of drug misusers registered on the central treatment list for methadone as at 29 October 1998 was 3,290. Of these, 867 were registered with general practitioners and approximately 200 were attending at ten health centres. It is proposed to increase the number of health centres providing facilities over the coming weeks. Other drug misusers are dealt with in the treatment centres.
Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:168 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, his Department will take to recruit more general practitioners under the new treatment regime for methadone for addicts on methadone in the Dublin area. [22009/98]
My Department is represented on the methadone protocol implementation committee, which is working closely with the Eastern Health Board in encouraging general practitioners to become involved in the treatment of drug misusers. The Irish College of General Practitioners is also represented on the committee and the college fully endorses the methadone protocol and actively promotes it in its policy on drug abuse. The Eastern Health Board employs general practitioners in its treatment centres and satellite clinics. Public advertisements are placed on a regular basis to attract additional general practitioners to work in the service. In addition, the board employs co-ordinators whose role includes placing drug misusers who have been stabilised in the board's treatment facilities with general practitioners in their own local areas.
Arising from the full implementation of the Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone) Regulations, 1998, on 1 October new controls are in place for the prescribing and dispensing of methadone. Limits have also been placed on the numbers of drug misusers attending individual general practitioners and pharmacies, In addition, agreement has been reached with the professional organisations representing general practitioners and pharmacists on appropriate levels of remuneration for those participating in the methadone protocol. I am confident that the implementation of these measures will result in the recruitment of additional general practitioners and pharmacists into the treatment of drug misusers.