Written answers
Wednesday, 24 March 2021
Department of Health
Cannabis for Medicinal Use
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1843. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the qualifying conditions under the medical cannabis access programme; if there is evidence to include chronic pain as a qualifying condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15640/21]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Products Regulatory Authority’s “Cannabis for Medical Review Use – A Scientific Review” advised that treatment with cannabis is only permitted under a controlled access programme for the treatment of patients with;
a. Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis resistant to all standard therapies and interventions whilst under expert medical supervision;
b. Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, despite the use of standard anti-emetic regimes whilst under expert medical supervision;
c. Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy that has failed to respond to standard anticonvulsant medications whilst under expert medical supervision.
The programme, included in the HSE Service Plan for 2021, will operate on a five year pilot basis.
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