Madam Speaker, methadone is presently being dispensed at 23 police station sites, five Community Health Centres, 13 Area Health Centres, five Methadone Day

86 Care Centres, 7 Mediclinics, 2 community sites, 8 hospitals and 5 points in Prison Setting catering for around 8,745 beneficiaries daily. The total number of dispensing points of methadone including police station sites, healthcare settings, community sites, Methadone Day Care Centres and Prison Services is 74. At certain sites, there are two dispensing points and different dispensing times: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. caravan and 9 a.m. to noon in healthcare settings. The relocation of methadone dispensing sites from police stations to healthcare settings is one component of a holistic approach to the management of patients and opioid use disorder. In that context, a national protocol namely, ‘Protocole de prise en charge de l’usage de drogue à Maurice’ was elaborated in March 2023 in order to come up with evidence- informed management of people for those drugs at large in a comprehensive manner and also address the issue of methadone dispensing. However, this protocol is currently being reviewed by a joint technical working group between the National Agency for Drug Control and the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Its objectives, amongst others, is to come up with sustainable measures and solutions to methadone dispensing issues in all its dimensions. Madam Speaker, it is expected that the new protocol will help to empty our streets and police stations of drug users, considerably reduce drug dealing, increase the safety of all residents and treat drug users in a humane, ethical and effective way, enabling most of them to return to a normal life and professional reintegration. Methadone dispensing at the Rose Belle Area Health Centre has started in September 2023 with two patients and is currently catering for 139 patients, both inside Area Healthcare Centre and in the yard to the caravan. Madam Speaker, my Ministry is well aware that the Rose Belle Area Health Centre is situated in a residential area and the risk involved in that, there are problems of loitering, littering and other anti-social behaviours of the patients during and after dispensing time. In this respect, several meetings are being held with the police of the region to enforce security and to discourage loitering and anti-social behaviour during and after dispensing hours. Madam Speaker, my Ministry will certainly look into the possibility of relocating the dispensing point into another suitable area.

Yes, Mr Ramdass!

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Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the hon. Minister for his reply. Whilst I do understand, Madam Speaker, that no one wants to have this activity carried out within his vicinity, however carrying out such an activity in a residential area poses risk to the security of the residence. One possible option would be to relocate this activity to JNH Hospital, will the hon. Minister be willing to consider that possibility, at least to give some thought, some consideration to that possibility?

Yes, hon. Minister!

Madam Speaker, this matter is being looked into by the joint committee will be set up with NADC and my Ministry. But I can tell the hon. Member that the question of putting back to the hospitals that is not something which is recommended because we have patients there, we have to look after patients, not after drug addicts only.

Yes, Dr. Prayag!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Maybe the hon. Minister could consider shifting back, I mean, to dispense methadone, given that it has to be done under police supervision, to do it in the police stations of the neighbourhoods with the staff of the Ministry of Health and Wellness?

Even the Commissioner of Police is not of that opinion. Unfortunately, that’s why we have got a joint meeting between NADC and our Ministry.

You will find a solution!

We will try to find a solution.

Yes, one more Mr Ramdass and then Dr. Aumeer!

I understand that this activity… Of course, I stand guided, I stand corrected by the hon. Minister, but I understand that this activity is already carried out at JNH Hospital, possibly identifying a specific area …

Which hospital?

JNH Hospital … within the precinct of the hospital could be a possibility that the hon. Minister could envisage?

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Madam Speaker, earlier hospitals were being used for that purpose. But as I told you, it’s being discouraged nowadays because of the number of patients attending hospitals and even doctors are not agreeable to this. So, I have to find out certain suitable places where this can be dispensed.

Aucun problème n’est insurmontable.

Definitely, Madam Speaker, I told you we have got a meeting with NADC and my Ministry. They are trying to find out ways and means to solve this problem. It’s not only in Rose Belle, in each and every area of this country, nobody wants these things to be dispensed near localities. So, we have to have to find places. It’s very difficult.

Bon courage M. le Ministre. Dr. Aumeer!

Madam Speaker, thank you. May I ask the hon. Minister whether if he could liaise with NADC so that methadone distribution which has done its days – you will find different methods of substitution therapy which no longer needs to have these people on the roads on a daily basis? Try to, if you can, use your influence to tell them there are suboxone and other drugs that can be used on a long-term therapy and have lesser people on the roads? Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I am not an expert in that. I will rely on NADC for this because they are experts, they know how to deal with this problem.

But we keep hearing this. Thank you, Dr. Aumeer. Yes, next question, Mr François! REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS – CORAL BLEACHING EVENTS – IMPACT ASSESSMENT