Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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259. To ask the Minister for Health if he will include chronic pain such as that suffered by persons with fibromyalgia as criteria to apply for the medical cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51525/21]

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 HPRA did not consider that the available evidence supported the use of cannabis in other medical conditions.

Subsequently the Minister for Health established an Expert Reference Group to advise on the development of a Medical Cannabis Access Programme. This Group developed detailed Clinical Guidelines for the MCAP to be followed by clinicians, which contained inter alia guidance on  ingredient combinations that are recommended for each of the three indications included in the MCAP

The Department is currently working to commence a new clinical review that will continue the work of the previous clinical expert group. This review will seek to build on evidence found in the earlier study and will assess if there is new information to support the addition of any other clinical indications to the MCAP.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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260. To ask the Minister for Health if he has examined the regulations and legislation that apply to cannabis use for medical conditions and palliative care having regard to the experience in Northern Ireland and Great Britain as set out in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51530/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government Commitment is to “Examine the regulations and legislation that apply to cannabis use for medical conditions and palliative care having regard to the experience in Northern Ireland and Great Britain”

Having set out the current frameworks in relation to access medicinal cannabis products in Ireland, in order to progress this commitment it will be necessary to liaise with colleagues in Northern Ireland and Great Britain to examine the legislation and regulations in place, how their legislation has been implemented, what they have learned from both and where that can be applied in the Irish context.

Officials in my Department are have already met with their counterparts in the UK Department of Health and Social Care in order to commence the examination of the regulations and legislation. It is planned that officials from both Departments will meet on a regular basis to exchange information.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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261. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to widen the strict criteria by which a patient can gain access to medicinal cannabis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51532/21]

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 HPRA did not consider that the available evidence supported the use of cannabis in other medical conditions.

Subsequently the Minister for Health established an Expert Reference Group to advise on the development of a Medical Cannabis Access Programme. This Group developed detailed Clinical Guidelines for the MCAP to be followed by clinicians, which contained inter alia guidance on  ingredient combinations that are recommended for each of the three indications included in the MCAP

The Department is currently working to commence a new clinical review that will continue the work of the previous clinical expert group. This review will seek to build on evidence found in the earlier study and will assess if there is new information to support the addition of any other clinical indications to the MCAP.

Clinicians may continue to utilise the Ministerial licencing route pursuant to Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act to prescribe medical cannabis for their patients, should they wish to do so.

In line with the Chief Medical Officer's advice, the granting of a licence for cannabis for medical purposes must be premised on an appropriate application being submitted to the Department of Health, which is endorsed by a consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.