Health service bosses should provide more support to pharmacists taking part in the methadone treatment schemes around the country, it was claimed today.
The Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) said there are 4,596 patients receiving methadone treatment from pharmacists.
Darragh O'Loughlin, a Galway pharmacist, said: "There is a lack of support from the Health Service Executive (HSE) for the Methadone Treatment Scheme outside of the Dublin area.
"We are calling on the HSE to set up a dedicated pharmacy liaison service for pharmacists participating in the scheme, similar to that which is being provided in the Dublin area.
"This cannot continue. The HSE must appoint a national Pharmacy Methadone Co-ordinator. Alternatively local pharmacy contractors should be recruited on a contract basis locally to provide this service, as is the case in Wales."
The union, which represents 1,600 community pharmacists, said the methadone treatment scheme was an essential service and there are currently 380 pharmacies participating in it — 221 in Dublin and 159 outside Dublin.
There are 76 methadone treatment clinics in Dublin and only 16 outside the capital. Mr O'Loughlin said: "Community pharmacists dispense methadone to patients who have made a decision to give up heroin.
These people wish to lead normal lives in their communities.
The Methadone Treatment Scheme is by and large very successful in the Dublin area." In Dublin, people battling heroin addiction initially attend a methadone clinic to receive the medication. The patients are treated in the clinic until they have detoxified, stabilised and adjusted to the treatment.
Once the patient is stabilised they are referred to a community pharmacy where their methadone is dispensed. Mr O'Loughlin said if a pharmacist in the Dublin area experiences any problems they have the support of the methadone clinic.
However, outside of Dublin there are few methadone clinics and when a doctor prescribes methadone to a person they often go directly to the community pharmacy to receive methadone.