Health Committee To Receive Up-Date On Medicinal Cannabis Programme Today.

Wednesday, 29 September 2021 07:10

Kildare TD, Bernard Durkan, is a member of the committee.

The Joint Committee on Health will get an update on the medical cannabis access programme today.

Kildare North Fine Gael TD, Bernard Durkan, sits on the committe.

Officials from the Department of Health and representatives from the HSE and Health Products Regulatory Authority will appear before the Committee for the discussion later this morning.

Committee Cathaoirleach Seán Crowe says “The Committee welcomes this discussion to get the most up to date information on the structure and roll-out of the medical cannabis access programme including information on the types of products currently available or being added to the programme, the licensing system in place and current criteria, challenges and conditions in place to allow patients to access the programme.”

The HSE will tell the committee today Canne-Epil, which is used to treat epilepsy, will come on stream in October.

At present, 67 Irish patients receive medicinal cannabis products - but they're all sourced from the Netherlands.

Campaigner Vera Twomey, whose daughter Ava Barry has epilepsy, says today's news is positive.

The Health Committee chaired by @SeanCroweTD will get an update on the medical cannabis access programme (MCAP) from representatives of @HSELive, @TheHPRA and @roinnslainte at a meeting in Leinster House, tomorrow #seeforyourself https://t.co/6uj2JCZiVT pic.twitter.com/Ifw5eEA1Ts
— Houses of the Oireachtas - Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) September 28, 2021