Notice Title

Approval of a Lead Clinician to Provide Opioid Substitution Treatment Under Section 24A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975

Acting under delegated authority from the Minister of Health, I, Dr John Crawshaw:

  1. Revoke the approval of the Te Whatu Ora Taranaki Alcohol and Drug Service and medical practitioner issued pursuant to sections 24A(7)(a), (b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 made on 19 December 2023 (as published in the New Zealand Gazette, 20 December 2023, Notice No. 2023-go5955); and
  2. Specify the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Taranaki Alcohol and Drug Service as a service that may provide treatment with controlled drugs for people who are dependent on controlled drugs, pursuant to section 24A(7)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, at the following places:

Taranaki Base Hospital Alcohol and Drug Clinic
27 David Street
Westown
New Plymouth 4310; and

Stratford Health Centre
8 Romeo Street
Stratford 4332; and

Hawera Hospital Mental Health Clinic
37 Hunter Street
Hawera 4610; and

Opunake Medical Centre
26 Napier Street
Opunake 4616; and

  1. Pursuant to section 24A(7)(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, specify that Dr Aaron Musker, as a medical practitioner, may:
    1. prescribe, administer, or supply controlled drugs for the treatment of dependence as the lead clinician for the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Taranaki Alcohol and Drug Service;
    2. authorise in writing service/clinic medical practitioners as specified under subsection 24A(2)(b) to:
      1. prescribe, administer, or supply controlled drugs for the treatment of dependence;
      2. authorise in writing general practitioners receiving clients from the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Taranaki Alcohol and Drug Service as specified under section 24A(2)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975; and
  2. authorise in writing general practitioners receiving clients from the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Taranaki Alcohol and Drug Service as specified under section 24A(2)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.

Conditions

  1. Controlled drugs may only be prescribed, administered, or supplied to people who are or have been clients of the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Taranaki Alcohol and Drug Service.
  2. This approval expires on 31 December 2025.

Dated at Wellington this 26th day of September 2024.

Dr JOHN CRAWSHAW, Director of Mental Health, Ministry of Health.