Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 471: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm whether pharmacists can refuse drug addicts their prescribed methadone treatment. [30088/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I presume that the Deputy is referring to the dispensing of methadone by pharmacists under the Methadone Treatment Programme.

In accordance with this Programme, a person who is opiate dependent consents to treatment and may be treated in a specialist drug treatment clinic or in the community. If a person is treated in the community, s/he has a designated GP who prescribes methadone and a designated pharmacist who dispenses methadone. The participation of the opiate dependent person, the GP and the pharmacist in the Methadone Treatment Programme is entirely voluntary.