Practice Managers Manual - Irish Health Repository

Methadone Scheme.
The Methadone Protocol Scheme is a national system for safe delivery of methadone treatment in General
Practice. It is a Department of Health Scheme supported by the ICGP. The scheme is designed to help
General Practitioners prescribe safely for their patients. Methadone Treatment Services are provided free of
charge.
The key components of the scheme are as follows:
In order to participate a Doctor must complete a half days training programme which is run by the ICGP.
Doctors must agree to ongoing audit and training.
Doctors are classified as level 1 or level 2 based on their experience.
Level 1 Doctors cannot initiate methadone but may only accept stable patients from a drug clinic.
Level 2 Doctors may initiate methadone treatment.
Level 1 Doctors are paid €152.26 per patient per month.
Level 2 Doctors are paid €167.93 per patient per month.
The maximum number of patients for level 1 is 15 and 35 for level 2 and a total of 50 patients per practice.
Patients are given a unique photo I.D which is required before methadone is dispensed. General Practitioners
are guaranteed that if they experience difficulty with any protocol patient that they can transfer the patient to a
drug clinic immediately.
Further information on the scheme can be obtained from either your local G.P Co-ordinator via your local
Addiction Service Headquarters or from Dr. Ide Delargey at the ICGP.
40 Practice Managers Manual