The outgoing Minister of State for Primary Care Alex White signed regulations to enable authorized cannabis-based medicinal products to be legally prescribed by medical practitioners and used by patients. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) received a market authorization request from a manufacturer under the EU Mutual Recognition Procedure for a medicinal product containing cannabis extract.
This product is used for the relief of symptoms of spasticity for people with multiple sclerosis. The HPRA completed its assessment of the product and, based on quality, safety and efficacy, recommended its approval for the Irish market. The granting of this approval was dependent on changes to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations.
“Hopefully, with the legal impediments now removed, a cannabis-based medicinal product will soon be available to ease the symptoms of spasticity for people with multiple sclerosis where other conservative treatments have failed,” said the Minister.
The amending regulations also introduce a handwriting exemption in respect of prescriptions for methadone. This means that the following information will now not be required to be handwritten: name and address of the patient; dose/quantity/strength of the preparation to be taken; and installment intervals.
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