Home > Dail Eireann debate. Written answers 663, 664, 665, 666 - Drug treatment programmes [Buprenorphine-naloxone & services] [24091/16, 24092/16, 24094/16, 24093/16].

[Oireachtas] Dail Eireann debate. Written answers 663, 664, 665, 666 - Drug treatment programmes [Buprenorphine-naloxone & services] [24091/16, 24092/16, 24094/16, 24093/16]. (21 Jul 2016)

[img]
Preview
PDF (Response from HSE) - Published Version
202kB

External website: http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20A...


663. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the HSE plan for phased increased access to buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine products within the context of available resources has been commenced; and the resources required for commencement. [24091/16]

 

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Catherine Byrne):  Buprenorphine-naloxone is a medicinal product, authorised as a substitution treatment for opioid drug dependence within a framework of medical, social and psychological treatment. It is currently being provided to a cohort of patients involved in a piloting and feasibility study.

 

The report of an implementation group established by the HSE to determine the conditions to govern the wider availability of buprenorphine-naloxone recommends the phased increased access to the product for a cohort of patients in specific circumstances, subject to the required legislation being enacted to provide the product on the same statutory basis as methadone.

 

If the provision of buprenorphine-naloxone is to be given the same statutory basis as methadone, in order to ensure its safe appropriate and cost-effective use, an amendment to the Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone) regulations 1998 will be required.

 

The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016 is currently making its way through the Houses of the Oireachtas and will allow for the revocation of the previously confirmed regulations. It is hoped that this Bill can be enacted before the summer recess. New regulations will then be required to allow legitimate users, such as patients with a prescription and healthcare professionals, to possess the newly controlled substances. Work is underway on drafting these regulations as a matter of priority.

 

Any regulations made in relation to buprenorphine-naloxone will be drafted subsequent to this legislative agenda and will then be subject to the 3-month EU notification under the EU Technical Standards Directive.

The resource requirements for making buprenorphine-naloxone more widely available following the enactment of the required legislation will be examined in the context of the estimates process for 2017.

 

664. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the opioid treatment protocol has been implemented. [24092/16]

666. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the HSE clinical guidelines for opioid substitution treatment, OST, have been launched. [24094/16]

 

[See PDF attached for response from HSE]

Addiction Treatment Services

665. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if an addiction clinical lead has been appointed by the HSE. [24093/16]

 

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Catherine Byrne): The HSE has appointed a National Addiction Clinical Lead to strengthen the development and implementation of clinical governance structures in the HSE addiction services and in respect of services that receive funding from the HSE. The Clinical Lead also supports and advises on the delivery of national policy objectives and the actions of the HSE National Service Plan, which include supporting the establishment of the new Mental Health Clinical Programme for co-morbid Mental Illness and Substance Misuse.

Repository Staff Only: item control page