SWITZERLAND; CANTON VAUD (French speaking part)
 
Médecin cantonal: Dr. JEAN MARTIN
Médecin cantonal adjointe: JANINE RESPLENDIDO
Address: Rue Cité-Devant 11
1014 Lausanne
Phone : +41-21-316.42.50 /316.42.46
Phone Service de la Santé: 316.42.00
Fax: +41-21-316.42.72
 
GPs and clinics have to contact the Médecin cantonal, who approves the methadone treatment.
There are three centres that do prescribe and provide methadone:
 

Centre Saint-Martin (low threshold programme)
 
The centre employs 19 professionals (not all of them fulltime) of which 2 doctors, 2 psychiatrists, 4 nurses, 1 psychologists, 3 social workers, 2 administrators and a manager.
Treatment philosophy is based upon harm reduction offering detoxification and maintenance programmes. The average dose of methadone prescribed is 80-100 mg.
Currently the centre treats 400 patients, which is the maximum capacity of the centre.
There is no waiting list.
 
The centre offers:
- medical care
- social assistance
- psychiatric care
- psycho-therapy
- socio-educate post-care
- individual and group therapy
- mother-child group
 
The centre demands:
- daily attendance
- urine checks
- individual treatment contract
 
Non-attendance, violence and disregarding treatment contract can get patient expelled from treatment.
 
If patient want to enter the programme on a permanent basis he needs an authorisation of the "Médecin Centonal".
 
Procedures for taking patient for a short time:
The centre should be informed beforehand by phone or fax.
The information necessary is:
- identity
- dose and period for which methadone is requested
- references where information can be checked
- treatment goals and motivation
 
When visiting the patient has to bring a letter from his doctor.
Duration of treatment for a short period of time depends on reasons.
Costs are not involved (depend on reciprocity principle)
 
Address:
Centre St. Martin
Rue St.-Martin 7
1003 Lausanne
Phone: +41-21-3161616
Fax: +41-21-3161626
Contact person: Dr. SANCHEZ MAZAS and Dr. BESSON
E-mail: Pablo.Sanches-Mazas@inst.hospud.ch
Hours of opening: from 9.00 till 19.00 hours

Entree de Secours
 
The centre employs doctors, nurses and educators.
Treatment philosophy is based upon harm reduction offering detoxification and maintenance programmes. The average dose of methadone prescribed depends on patient. Currently the centre treats about 30 patients.
There is no maximum duration of treatment and no waiting list.
 
The centre offers:
- medical care
- social assistance
- facilities like shower, washing machine etc.
- links to other centres and resources (jobs, social structures etc.)
- prevention (HIV/Aids, hepatitis, etc.)
- family counselling
 
The centre demands:
- urine checks
- individualised demands
 
Procedures for taking patient for a short time:
The centre should be informed beforehand by phone followed by letter.
The information necessary is:
- identity
- treatment history
- dose and period for which methadone is requested
- references where information can be checked
 
When visiting the patient has to bring a letter from his doctor.
Costs involved include (at least) cost of methadone provided.
 
Address:
Entree de Secours
Rue Centrale 20
1110 Morges
Phone: +41-21-8036747
Fax: +41-21-8036721
Contact person: FRANÇOIS PERRINJAQUET
Hours of opening: Monday till Friday from 13.30 till 20.00 hours; Sunday from 16.00 till 18.00 hours

Fondation de Nant
Contact person: Dr. I. BERCLAZ
1804 Corsier/Vevey
Phone: +41-21-9210241

One centre does not prescribe methadone, but works closely together with GPs and clinics in the area who do:
 
Zone Bleu
Rte de Neuchâtel
1400 Yverdon-les-Bains
Phone: +41-(0)21-9210241