578. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will address the issue of the MCAP restrictive access by broadening it to cover patients suffering from chronic pain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11035/23]

Stephen Donnelly Minister for Health: The three stated conditions currently being treated under the MCAP were based on the recommendations of the 2017 HPRA publication "Cannabis for Medical Use- A Scientific Review" which found that if cannabis products that are not capable of being authorised as medicines are made available through an access programme, 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 publication advised that a programme should recognise patient need, but be evidence based.

An evidence based synthesis and clinical review of the MCAP is being carried out by the Health Research Board for the Department of Health following which a clinical review group will complete an assessment to see if there is evidence to support the recommendation of the addition of any other clinical indications to the MCAP programme.