Media response - Fresh Start Recovery Programme

Questions asked by:   ABC TV -STATELINE

Minister for Mental Health response:

• The WA Government does provide substantial funding to Dr O'Neil's Fresh Start Recovery Programme (FSRP).  The value and importance of the service's work is recognised by the WA Government's provision of recurrent annual funding, CPI adjusted in 2008/09 of $1.153 million.

• Some 6% of the Drug and Alcohol Office (DAO) funding is provided to Dr O'Neil's clinics.

• The State Government funding enables FSRP to deliver counselling and support services to outpatient clients.  This level of funding adequately covers the services outlined in the current funding agreement with Dr O'Neil.  The funding agreement does not cover cost of therapies like naltrexone implants for patients.

• Specifically, Dr O'Neil has requested additional funding for the naltrexone implant treatment provided to his patients.  It is not the obligation of the WA Government and the taxpayer generally to fund these treatments.

• Dr O'Neil could seek private sector pharmaceutical partners to assist funding in the production and marketing of the naltrexone implant treatment.

• It should be noted that some 25% of patients attending Dr O'Neil's clinics are not naltrexone implant patients.  Dr O'Neil's treatment load could be reduced and these other patients picked up by other Drug and Alcohol agencies in both the private and non government sectors.

• Naltrexone implant therapy is not registered by the national registration body, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as an approved treatment.  He does have provisional approval for use in his clinics as a trial while he is supposed to be completing the rigorous TGA full registration process.

• The State Government simply cannot provide funding for medications that are not fully registered by the (TGA).  The community would be rightly aghast.

• The public health protection of the Australian community is based on the rigour and efficacy of the (TGA) process and Dr O'Neil should submit his clinical evidence based material to the TGA for examination and validating.

• I can announce that the WA Government has made a very practical offer to Dr O'Neil to assist him met the essential (TGA) requirement for the naltrexone implants.

• He is offered a grant in the sum of $50,000 for an independent academic in the field to assess and validate the data Dr O'Neil has recorded to date.  The prepared report, including suggestions for the 'write up' of an effective and comprehensive application to the (TGA) will be made available to Dr O'Neil.

• I note that the Commonwealth has a number of grant based programmes like the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). 

• I would be prepared to instruct the DAO to assist Dr O'Neil in the submission of a grant application to the NHMRC or a like body to ensure that his validated data on the efficiency of naltrexone implants can be presented to the TGA in the required format so that his application can be assessed with the best chance of success.

Minister's office - 9213 6900