Brendan Griffin
Ceist:1159. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when the cannabis access programme will be operational for multiple sclerosis patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27074/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 20 June 2017
Ceisteanna (1159)
Freagraí scríofa
An Expert Reference Group, chaired by Dr Mairín Ryan, Director of Health Technology Assessment at the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) convened on 30 March to commence work on drafting guidelines, in line with National Standards for Clinical Practice Guidance Development, to facilitate the prescription and supply of medicinal cannabis to qualifying patients.
The work of the group is guided by the conclusions of the HPRA report and other international scientific evidence in developing operational guidelines for the implementation of the access programme through which the optimal use of cannabis for medicinal purposes in Ireland will be implemented.
The guidelines will focus on the clinical criteria for patient access; forms of medicinal cannabis that will be permitted for use; prescribing and dispensing requirements for doctors and pharmacists; education requirements for healthcare professionals and patients and ethical implications of such a scheme. A major focus of the Expert Group’s work in drafting the guidelines for the safe use of cannabis for those patients who will be prescribed cannabis-based treatments through the Cannabis Access Programme has been on contribution to the contents of the guidelines by clinicians, patients and pharmacists, who will be the central stakeholders in this initiative.
The establishment of the access programme and the requisite legislative amendments under the Misuse of Drugs Acts will take a number of months to complete.
In the meantime, under existing legislation it remains open to me as Minister to consider granting a licence to an Irish-registered physician, under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, for access to medical cannabis for named patients, where the proposed course of treatment has been endorsed by the patient’s consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient, and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.
Ultimately it is the decision of the clinician, in consultation with their patient, to prescribe or not prescribe a particular treatment for a patient under their care.