Ireland Launches Medical Cannabis Treatment Program
The Irish Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has announced that the “Medical Cannabis Access Program” has been officially included in the Department of Health’s service plan for 2021. This means that patients with prescriptions for cannabinoid-based medications will now be able to obtain them within the country.
Free Medical Cannabis for Irish Patients
Donnelly explained the reasons behind the Ministry’s decision to add cannabis therapy to the list of available services: “The goal of the program is to increase access to cannabinoid-based medicines. The Ministry made this decision based on a report titled ‘Medical Use of Cannabis – A Scientific Review,’ prepared by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). However, I would like to note that the Irish government has no plans to legalize recreational cannabis.”
Under the program, doctors are allowed to prescribe cannabis-based medications for the treatment of:
- Muscle spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis
- Nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy
- Severe forms of epilepsy
Cannabis-based medicines are only permitted when conventional treatments have proven ineffective. Additionally, doctors can only prescribe cannabinoid medications that have been approved by the HPRA. Currently, the agency has approved just three oils containing THC and CBD, produced by Aurora, MGC Pharma, and Tilray.
Government to Cover Costs for Eligible Patients
The healthcare budget for 2021 was increased by 4 billion euros, with part of these funds allocated to the implementation of the medical cannabis treatment scheme. In particular, the government will fully cover the cost of cannabinoid-based medicines for eligible citizens who hold medical cards.
Patients Can Now Obtain Cannabis Medications from Their Doctor
Medical cannabis was legalized in Ireland in 2019. However, authorities had not issued any licenses for the production or import of cannabinoid-based medicines, forcing Irish patients to travel abroad to obtain their prescribed treatments. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health began importing cannabis medicines from the Netherlands and distributing them to those in need. Now, patients registered in the Medical Cannabis Access Program will be able to receive their medications directly from their healthcare provider.
Gino Kenny, head of the public organization People Before Profit, believes the Ministry of Health has taken a step in the right direction. However, he has called on officials to expand the list of conditions eligible for cannabis treatment, such as including chronic pain.