News
Computer-controlled methadone dispensing for prisons
16 April 2008
Prisons in England will be provided with biometric-based computer
controlled methadone dispensing systems (CCMDS) under a framework
agreement between the Department of Health and NEC UK.
Under the agreement, NEC will deliver CCMDS to up to 100 prisons in
England, with ongoing technical support and consultancy for five years.
Phase One, in which CCDMS will be implemented in 72 prisons, started in
December 2007. The Department of Health has approved the relevant
primary care trusts to implement CCMDS within their local prisons.
The system includes biometric software, the network infrastructure,
computer hardware and a methadone dispenser, and is being delivered in
conjunction with partners Methasoft UK Ltd and Human Recognition Systems
Ltd.
CCMDS enables the accurate and controlled dispensing of prescribed
methadone to prisoners addicted to heroin, according to the requirements
outlined in their individual treatment record. It uses a combination of
biometric identifiers, such as a fingerprint or iris scans, to identify
the correct person and access the prisoner’s treatment record before
dispensing methadone.
The system prevents accidental over/under-prescription and
unauthorised usage, in addition to enabling advanced personalisation of
treatment and the development of an accurate, automated treatment
history.
The treatment of substance addiction is a significant health
challenge in prisons. The use of CCMDS enables a simple, efficient and
secure method for providing tailored and effective healthcare treatment
to inmates, in line with the rehabilitation duty of care. Participation
in CCMDS is not mandatory for prisoners, although uptake is high, and
there is no infringement of personal security or human rights as the
system does not physically store ‘images’ of biometric data, only the
coding which enables an individual to be identified.
David Payette, CEO and President, NEC UK commented: “CCMDS is a
compelling example of biometric technology being used in a challenging
real-life environment and clearly demonstrates that biometric-based
identification systems are simple to implement, manage and use.
Biometric authentication and verification will continue to become more
prevalent as the requirement for tighter security and absolute
verification of an individual increases.”
Dave Marteau, Offender Health Substance Misuse Lead at the Department
of Health, commented: “Biometric-based systems provide a level of
patient safety that is highly desirable in a busy treatment environment.
Our larger prisons see ten new patients per day, and have as many as
three hundred patients on treatment at any one time. Biometric
recognition linked to a computerised prescription is an excellent
patient safety support to our clinicians.”
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