PBP TD will be joined by families and individuals who have encountered issues with access to the programme
The TD will be joined by individuals and families (list below) who are campaigning to be included in the recently commenced Medicinal Cannabis Access Programme. The programme will be reviewed this year
This year the Dept Of Health will conduct a clinical review of the clinical indications of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP). This will be reviewed by a clinical expert group. It’s now five years since the HPRA convened the Cannabis for Medical Use- A Scientific Review. In that document, it recommended the setting up of an access programme with three stated conditions where there was an unmet medical need. They were spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis resistant to all standard therapies and interventions. Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. Refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy that has failed to respond to standard anticonvulsant medications.
Controversially chronic pain was omitted from the indications that the programme could eventually prescribe. Since the MCAP commenced late last year less than five individuals have been enrolled onto the programme via prescription. To date, only one medical cannabis product is available under prescription. Today a new campaigning group that is made up of patients, advocates and supporters are calling on the HSE to expand the programme to include other conditions, particularly indications like neuropathic pain. People that can’t access the MCAP or even the ministerial licence due to the arbitrary nature of reimbursement are now saying What About Us! Who continue to be omitted from access to these medicines.
Gino Kenny TD who is a long-time campaigner in giving greater access to medical cannabis will say, “The review this year of the MCAP has to expand to include other conditions otherwise the MCAP will be redundant in its purpose. There is very good clinical evidence in the use of cannabis for those that suffer from chronic pain. The Danish equivalent of the MCAP includes neuropathic pain in its indications. We are saying why can’t the MCAP here include that to. Today campaigners are launching the What About Us who will set out their case and call on the expert group to include them in the forthcoming review.
Speakers
- Gino Kenny TD
- Dr. Garrett Mc Govern- Garrett is a clinical lead in addiction services at the Priority Medical Clinic Dublin.
- Pamela Barnes- Mother of Ryan who was granted a ministerial licence for a medical cannabis product from Holland but now is a position they can’t afford the treatment.
- Amy Brown- Endometriosis Campaigner and Advocate for Medical cannabis
- Jen Devlin- Campaigner for Fibromyalgia and advocate for access to medical cannabis.
- John Doherty- Living with MS and Advocate for access to the medical cannabis.
- Russell Banta- Researcher in Chemistry in UCC campaigning for access to the medical cannabis those that suffer with neuropathic pain