Home > Dáil Éireann debate. Written answer 1808, 1809 – Cannabis for medical use [43129/22 & 43133/22]

[Oireachtas] Dáil Éireann debate. Written answer 1808, 1809 – Cannabis for medical use [43129/22 & 43133/22]. (08 Sep 2022)

External website: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2022...


1808. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if, in relation to the Medical Cannabis Access Programme, he is giving consideration to expanding the list of health conditions covered by the MCAP; if he is giving consideration to including medicinal cannabis products on the list of medications which patients can be reimbursed for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43129/22]

1809. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct his Department in relation to the current situation around access to medicinal cannabis products in Ireland and the fact that the MCAP severely restricts the health conditions the products can be prescribed for to expand this list of health conditions MCAP can prescribe medical cannabis products for treatment; if he will ensure that the drug payment scheme includes medical cannabis products, meaning that this process is designed to meet the needs of Irish patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43133/22]

Minister for Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1808 and 1809 together. 

In the 2017 report commissioned by the Minister for Health “Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review” it was advised that cannabis should only be made available for the treatment of patients with specified medical conditions which have failed to respond to all other previous treatments, and where there is at least modest evidence that cannabis may be effective.

Currently there are three specified medical conditions that the programme includes:

  • spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis;
  • intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy;
  • severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy that has failed to respond to standard anticonvulsant medications.

My Department has commenced a review of the MCAP. This review will continue the work of the previous clinical expert group and seek to build on evidence found in the earlier study. It will assess if there is new evidence to support the addition of any other clinical indications to the MCAP.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list.

The Minister for Health has no role in this clinical decision-making process and Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 prevents the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

Under the MCAP, the HSE can reimburse eligible patients for products included in Schedule 1 of S.I. No. 262/2019 - Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of Cannabis for Medical Use) Regulations 2019, the statutory basis behind the programme.

Question No. 1809 answered with Question No. 1808.

Item Type
Dail Debates
Publication Type
Irish-related
Drug Type
Cannabis, Prescription/Over the counter
Intervention Type
Policy
Date
8 September 2022
EndNote

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