Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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413. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a licence to access medicinal cannabis to treat severe epilepsy; and, if the licence has been granted, the status of the application for the reimbursement of the cost of the medicinal cannabis. [46972/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Department is not in a position to comment on individual cases. However, if the patient or their medical practitioner wishes to contact the Department of Health directly to discuss their application they are welcome to do so.

Furthermore, the Department of Health website contains detailed clinical guidance on the use of medical cannabis and details on how a medical practitioner may apply for a Ministerial licence. This information can be found at:

health.gov.ie/blog/publications/cannabis-for-medical-use/

It is important to note that the decision to prescribe or not prescribe any treatment, including cannabis treatment, for an individual patient is strictly a decision for the treating clinician, in consultation with their patient. The Minister for Health has no role in this clinical decision-making process.

The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Prescribers and patients may contact the HSE directly by phone at 353 1 864 7100and by e-mail at pcrs@hse.ie.