PRESCRIBING AND DISPENSING OF METHADONE  [ S.L.101.03 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 101.03
PRESCRIBING AND 
DISPENSING OF METHADONE RULES
17th August, 1984
LEGAL NOTICE 41 of 1984, as amended by Legal Notice 99 of 1996.
Title.
Methadone Rules.
Interpretation.
"designated clinic" means a clinic in a government hospital or
clinic designated by the Superintendent of Public Health for the
treatment by methadone of drug addicts or other persons needing
that drug for a period in excess of two weeks;
"designated practitioner" means any medical practitioner or
dental surgeon authorised by the Superintendent of Public Health to
work in a designated clinic;
"methadone" includes any salt or ester thereof.
Restricted 
prescription.
3. No medical practitioner or dental surgeon shall issue a
prescription for methadone in any form in respect of a patient who
is an addict or who recently has had treatment with this drug for a
period in excess of two weeks unless such medical practitioner or
dental surgeon, as the case may be, is a designated practitioner and
unless such prescription is issued from a designated clinic.
Form of 
methadone.
Amended by:
L.N. 99 of 1996.
4. No methadone may be prescribed or supplied from a
designated clinic other than in mixture form or as linctus:
Provided that in exceptional circumstances, the designated
practitioner may in writing authorise the prescribing or supply of
such drug in any other form as may be indicated for the patient
under his care.
Register of persons 
under treatment.
5.  There shall be kept at each such clinic -
( a ) a register of persons under methadone treatment at a
designated clinic as provided for under rules 2 to 4,
and
( b ) individual records in which shall be entered details of
every prescription and supply, the amount of the drug,
and the name of the designated practitioner prescribing
the drug, and which shall be countersigned by the
person responsible for supplying the drug.
Responsibility for 
stocks.
Amended by:
L.N. 99 of 1996.
6. The designated practitioner shall ensure that strict
procedures are enforced in respect of the security and
accountability of methadone preparations stocked at such clinic. 
Restricted 
importation, etc.
7. No person other than the Chief Pharmacist employed with
the Department of Health may import, stock or supply any
methadone.
2 [ S.L.101.03 PRESCRIBING AND DISPENSING OF METHADONE
Form of 
prescription.
8. (1) When any medical practitioner or dental surgeon issues
a prescription for methadone to a patient he shall issue the
prescription on the form set out in the Schedule.
(2) The medical practitioner or dental surgeon who prescribes
methadone as provided for in this rule shall enter in a legible
manner all the details contained in Part A of the said form.
(3) The apothecary dispensing a prescription for methadone
shall enter in a legible manner all the details contained in Part C of
the said form, in accordance with any instructions contained
therein.
Dispensing. 9. (1) Any prescription for methadone as is referred to in rule
8 shall only be dispensed from a Government Pharmacy authorised
for that purpose by the Superintendent of Public Health.
(2) No methadone may be dispensed unless the prescription is
issued in conformity with the provisions of rule 8:
Provided that when the prescription is not issued in
conformity with the provisions of rule 8 or where the dose
prescribed is in excess of the normal therapeutic dose for
methadone, the apothecary in charge of such pharmacy may, if he
considers the case as an emergency and after ascertaining the
identity of the patient by means of the identity card, issue a supply
for two days only and shall immediately inform the prescriber
accordingly.
Prescription for 
pethidine. 
10. Every medical practitioner or dental surgeon prescribing
pethidine or any salt thereof to a patient who has commenced or is
about to commence treatment with such drug for a period
exceeding four weeks, shall inform the Superintendent of Public
Health giving particulars as to the name, age and address of the
patient, the patient’s identity card number and the indication for
long term treatment with that drug.
Non-applicability 
of rules 2 to 6. 
11. The provisions of rules 2 to 6 do not apply in respect of
methadone prescribed in terminal cases of malignant disease
provided that the prescriber indicates this fact on the prescription.
PRESCRIBING AND DISPENSING OF METHADONE  [ S.L.101.03 3
SCHEDULE
(Rule 8)
PRESCRIPTION FOR NARCOTIC AND PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS
(Only one item may be prescribed on this Form)
Serial No.
A. TO BE FILLED BY PRESCRIBER C. TO BE FILLED BY 
DISPENSING APOTHECARYPATIENT
Name and Surname ................................................................. PATIENT
Address ................................................................................... Surname Name
ITEM Quantity
(incl. Form& Dose) I.D
Directions for use
Additional information in respect of Prescriptions for METHADONE Male Female
ITEM
Expected Duration of Treatment .................... Quantity Supplied
Medical Indication ........................................ Total Quantity
in Units ...............................................................
PRESCRIBER Med Council Reg. No. Total Quantity
in Weight/Measure ...............................................
Name and Surname .......................................................... PRESCRIPTION ORIGIN
Address .......................................................................... Hospitals .............................................................
Signature ............................................... Date .................... Govt. Clinics .......................................................
..
Private .......................................................
..
B. FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY DISPENSER
To be filled by Government Dispenser Signature................................................................
.
PRESCRIPTION TYPE Pharmacy Board Reg. No
Pink Form Schedule III  Others Dispensary Address
Direct Postal .........................................................................
LOCATION DISPENSER Dispensary 
To be filled by Coder DH Licence No.
Item No. Prescription Origin Date
