The first ever legal medicinal cannabis in Ireland will be available for patients from October, confirmed the HSE. The medicine known as CannEpil will be provided through the HSE systems as part of its Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP).
The attempts to legalise medicinal cannabis in Ireland was started by the Department of Health in 2020. The medicine CannEpil contain cannabidiol, extracted from cannabis and used for the treatment of various illnesses.
To secure the medicine, patients will need a prescription from a registered consultant and will be given only for a limited number of people. According to the authorities, it will be used once all other options for treatment run out.
There are reports that medicinal cannabis is used for the treatment of epilepsy, cancer etc. But it is exclusively the consultant’s decision whether to prescribe cannabis medicine as a treatment. Steps to prevent the misuse of medicinal cannabis will also be a responsibility.
Another medicinal cannabis product supplied by Tilray oral solutions is also ready but the date of availability in Irish Market is not conformed, said Shaun Flanagan, the HSE’s assistant national director of primary care reimbursement service.