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Friday, November 3, 1972
METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
The Medical and Health Department's methadone maintenance programe,
originally planned to start on November 1, is being delayed because renovation
of premises in Sai Ying Poon is continuing, and is now expected to begin early
next month.
The programme will be carried out in the former mental hospital in
High Street.
The programme will be under the supervision of Dr. T.M. Teoh, who
retired from government service seven years ago as a Principal Medical Officer,
and who is giving up private practice in order to accept the responsibility.
The staff will comprise seven nurses, a number of medical social
workers, laboratory technicians, clerks and other junior hands.
One
The programme is on a trial basis expected to last three years.
hundred and fifty patients will be accepted in the first year, increasing to
200 in the second and third years, making a total of 550 for the whole trial
period.
It is expected that about ten patients will be admitted to the
hospital at a time. They will comprise referrals from SARDA (The Society for
the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts), the central registry of drug
addicts in the Secretariat for Home Affairs, government departments, and other
voluntary agencies..
The method is ..................
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