John Curran
Ceist:329. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the working group to progress increased access to buprenorphine naloxone and buprenorphine products. [52692/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 18 December 2018
Ceisteanna (329)
Freagraí scríofa
In January 2016, the Director General of the HSE submitted the final report of the Opioid Substitution Implementation Group to the Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy. The report recommends the phased increased of access to buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) for groups of patients in specific circumstances, subject to resourcing and the required legislation being enacted.
New Regulations, the Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone and Medicinal Products containing Buprenorphine authorised for Opioid Substitution Treatment) Regulations 2017 came into effect on 22 November 2017. The purpose of these Regulations is to provide access to certain buprenorphine-based medicinal products for Opioid Substitution Treatment (including buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine only) on the same statutory basis as methadone.
The Department of Health provided additional funding to the HSE in 2018 to expand availability of buprenorphine/naloxone for those not suited to OST.