Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
73. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a professor of palliative medicine at the National University of Ireland, Galway recently said the medical cannabis access programme was a welcome step, but is still not working for many patients; if he will immediately publish a long-awaited review into the medicinal cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26573/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) was commenced in 2021 following the recommendations in the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) report “Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review” which was published in 2017.
The programme is operated by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service of the HSE.
The 2017 report stated that there was an absence of scientific data demonstrating the effectiveness (efficacy) of cannabis products and that the safety of cannabis as a medical treatment was not well characterised.
In particular, there was insufficient information on its safety during long term use for the treatment of chronic medical conditions, such as those for which there is a public interest.
The report also stated that if cannabis products that are not capable of being authorised as medicines, were to be made available through an access programme, that patients and healthcare professionals must recognise the limitations of the programme in assuring the safety, quality and effectiveness, as compared with what would be expected for an authorised medicine.
The Report found that if the policy decision was to make cannabis available for medical purposes, it should recognise patient need, but be evidence based.
The Report advised, that treatment with cannabis is only permitted under a controlled access programme for the treatment of patients with one of three stated conditions while being under expert medical supervision.
The three stated conditions are:
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.
To date the 43 patients have availed of the MCAP and since the end 0f 2016 300 licences have issued for the treatment of of 75 individual patients, some for conditions other than those covered by the MCAP.
The MCAP review is underway and should be completed by year's end.
