Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will send the note to the Deputy after the meeting. The scientific review has been completed and it advises that we should put the controlled access programme in place for patients with one of the three conditions of which the Deputy will be aware. The expert reference group then developed clinical guidelines for the programme. The impact of an amendment to Schedule 1 of the misuse of drugs regulation 2019 is what is being looked at. The regulation set out the legal provisions for the operation of the medical cannabis access programme, MCAP, and the legal obligations for healthcare professionals and commercial operators. Products listed in Schedule 1 are considered by the HPRA as suitable for inclusion in the programme. Manufacturers then apply to the HPRA for products included in Schedule 1. This is how we are driving it through. There are currently three products in the Schedule and I am glad to share with the Deputy that a fourth will be added shortly.

On the question the Deputy has been raising, progress is being made. I know it can seem very frustrating and I hear him on that. The question for us is how we can continue to overcome the barriers that I accept, and the Deputy knows very well, exist. The HSE is in pricing and supply negotiations with suppliers of the approved products, which is critical, and agreement has to be reached before the programme can commence. What we are trying to do is get this programme up and running.

A recommendation of the review is that initially the programme would be run on a five-year pilot basis, which I believe is good. The commencement of the programme is dependent on pricing and supply issues being agreed by the HSE and the manufacturers. Critically, we had the expert review. We had the reference group. Three products are included in the Schedule now. A fourth is being added. The HSE is in discussions with the manufacturers and suppliers. We are going to run a five-year pilot, which is a good lengthy time for this, and when the pricing and supply issues have been agreed with the HSE and the manufacturers, we can commence the programme.