Results 1-7 of 7 for and segment:8911534

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (2 May 2024)

Gino Kenny: ...the report conducted by the Health Research Board that informed his Department of the current status of the medical cannabis access programme, MCAP; when his Department will consider the findings and make a clinical decision on whether to expand the criteria of the MCAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19872/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (2 May 2024)

Gino Kenny: Earlier this year the Health Research Board, HRB, published a very extensive report on the efficacy and safety of the medical cannabis access programme. The programme has been in place since 2019. Could the Minister give me his thoughts on the report and what the Department of Health intends to do next?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (2 May 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for his question and acknowledge his ongoing work in this area, both in terms of the MCAP initially and the evolution of the programme. As he will be aware, we launched the medical cannabis access programme in 2021 for three conditions initially: refractory epilepsy, spasticity as a result of MS and nausea from chemotherapy. Since the inception of the programme, 55...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (2 May 2024)

Gino Kenny: The concept of the medical cannabis access programme is a good idea, because the licensed system is very bureaucratic and, in some instances, archaic. Since the inception of MCAP, only 55 people have got access. That is a tiny number of people given that the legislation was introduced in 2019 and the access programme in 2021. The HRB report says there is significant evidence of good...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (2 May 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: ...in many cases they are nervous about prescribing, even though the MCAP is in place for the unlicensed products. As I said, we will do a clinical review of the HRB findings. I am very open to expanding the programme. We will be led by the clinical view on this. What is interesting though is that while I take the Deputy's point that there are only 55 patients, which is a low number,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (2 May 2024)

Gino Kenny: I understand the appeal of licensed products, but the MCAP was set up for those who have tried every known medication for their condition and they want to be in a position where they could try a number of these other medications. It think nine medical cannabis products are listed, which is better than it was perhaps 18 months ago, but there is enormous frustration with the restrictions and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (2 May 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: ...exactly those issues. I will ask my officials to bear all of that in mind. The unit dealing with this will take note of our interaction this morning. The first question is whether we expand from the three conditions. I am very open to that. Second, what we need to do is engage with the clinical community as well and ask even if we do expand, whether clinicians are still nervous of...