STATE and Federal Governments should cover the costs of pharmacists' dispensing fees for opioid replacement medications to support patients struggling with dependency on the drugs, the Victorian Greens believe.
Voicing support for the North Richmond Supervised Injecting Facility, Victorian Greens leader, Dr Samantha Ratnam, called on the State Government to do more to support patients from outside the area to access treatment, including opening more facilities across the state.
"The Government can also assist more people to get treatment with heroin substitutes, such as methadone," she said.
"It is often hard to find a doctor who will prescribe it, and many patients fall off the wagon because they have to pay a daily pharmacy fee."
Responding to questions from Pharmacy Daily, Victorian Greens Health spokesperson, Dr Tim Read, said pharmacists' fees would ideally be covered by the Federal Government.
"[However], given the urgency of the problem and the social and health benefits of opiate replacement therapy, the state should seriously consider investing in this," he said.
"It's likely to reduce admissions to hospitals and prisons and would potentially pay for itself.
"If the Government has concerns about cost-effectiveness, a randomised trial could be done."
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