More than 180
participants came to our
Methadone Prescribers
Conference in 2014.
Methadone
Physicians must receive an exemption from Health Canada to prescribe methadone. Therefore, the
number of assessments in any given year will vary depending on who receives an exemption. For those
462 physicians who currently hold exemptions, the Methadone Committee has established the assessment scheme as follows: physicians are assessed after their first year prescribing methadone; if successful,
the next assessment occurs at year three and if that is successful, the physician is assessed every five years.
In 2014, the College assessed 79 methadone prescribers.
As part of the federal delegation exemption that allows the administration of methadone from community clinics, the College, in conjunction, with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) undertakes
clinic inspections to ensure they are meeting the federal requirements for the secure transfer and administration of doses. In 2014, the College and OCP inspected 15 methadone clinics.
Methadone Assessment Outcomes
Satisfactory Assessment
Re-Assessment or Interview
2012
2013
2014
2012
2013
2014
1st Year Assessment
63%
56%
74%
37%
44%
26%
3rd Year Assessment
91%
75%
75%
9%
25%
25%
5th Year Assessments
86%
76%
87%
14%
24%
13%
Re-assessments
83%
50%
80%
17%
50%
20%
Annual Report 2014 15