Government Should Provide Incentives For Methadone Program

The Tasmanian Government has been called upon to provide better incentives with regard to the methadone program to the pharmacies. More people are being turned away as a result of the winding back of the methadone program, for which the Government has been faulted.

David Llewellyn, the Health Minister has revealed that the program has the involvement of three pharmacies only, and expansion is possible only if more were to get involved. As many as 120 people are serviced by the Hobart pharmacy, according to the Pharmacy Guild. Better incentives are required to get the involvement of more pharmacies. The cost that the patient incurs is also seen to be an obstacle.

Most of the pharmacists and doctors in Tasmania are not willing to contribute towards the methadone program. The bureaucracy has also been accused of hindering the treatment, resulting in 30 casualties every year as a result of opiate-related causes.

The pharmacists and doctors object to having to cater to more drug addicts, and they have called upon the Government to render more help towards this program. A public methadone clinic may contribute towards solving a part of the problem.