The Health Products Regulatory Authority’s “Cannabis for Medical Review Use – A Scientific Review” advised that treatment with cannabis is only permitted under a controlled access programme for the treatment of patients with;
a. Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis resistant to all standard therapies and interventions whilst under expert medical supervision;
b. Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, despite the use of standard anti-emetic regimes whilst under expert medical supervision;
c. Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy that has failed to respond to standard anticonvulsant medications whilst under expert medical supervision.
The programme, included in the HSE Service Plan for 2021, will operate on a five year pilot basis and is expected to commence mid-year.
A programme for appropriate data collection will be developed by the HSE who will manage the MCAP. The MCAP being a five year pilot programme will also be subject to review and that will probably include consideration of relevant national and international data.