This ends prolonged anxiety and uncertainty about the future of the centre, which is based in Dunedin.
Late last year, the New Zealand Nurses Union urged the poisons centre be saved, and said it was facing amalgamation with other health help lines, during a lengthy Ministry of Health process to determine how a new service would be configured.
Dr Temple said the ministry had recognised the merit in retaining the centre.
The centre, based in the University of Otago department of preventive and social medicine, has provided the public and healthcare professionals with poisons advice for more than 50 years.
It handles about 35,000 poisoning inquiries each year.
The centre will link with Auckland-based Homecare Medical, which the ministry named yesterday as the preferred provider for the overall new National Telehealth Service, which will go live on November 1.
The centre looked forward to ''working with Homecare Medical to deliver the Poisonsline Service'', Dr Temple said.
The future of the centre's 14 staff was safe, and the centre would continue to operate around the clock. It can still be contacted by calling 0800 POISON / 0800 764-766.
Dr Temple, who joined first joined the centre in 1979 is retiring at the end of the month. And he could do so, ''knowing the service was in good hands''.
Final contract negotiations were under way with Homecare Medical, which was a partnership between Canterbury Primary Health Organisation Pegasus Health and ProCare Health, a greater network GPs.
The National Telehealth Service will integrate Healthline, Poisonline, Quitline, Gambling Helpline, Alcohol and Drug Helpline, the National Depression Initiative, and immunisation advice for the public.
PlunketLine and 111 calls will not be affected.
