Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 May 2026
350. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if affordability and reimbursement mechanisms for medicinal cannabis products form part of the current review of access to cannabis for medical use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38549/26]
View answerIn the Medical Cannabis Access Programme reimbursement of the listed products prescribed by medical consultants and supplied through community pharmacies for a specified therapeutic indication as outlined in Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of Cannabis for Medical Use) Regulations 2019 (as amended), will be on an individual named patient basis aligned to the patient’s eligibility under the Community Drug Schemes.
To claim reimbursement, the top copy of the Unified Claim Form (UCF) is submitted for each dispensing with a copy of the Cannabis for Medical Use Prescription Form using form number format. The UCF needs to include patient name, Community Drug Scheme eligibility details (e.g. LTI number), administrative codes, name and quantities of products dispensed and dates of dispensing. Claims submitted for patients who are not approved will not be paid.
Reimbursement is only for treatment of the three stated conditions of the MCAP, refractory epilepsy, spasticity due to MS and nausea as a result of chemotherapy. Reimbursement decisions are a matter for the Primary Care Reimbursement Service and not the Department of Health.
As part of the Review Access to Cannabis for Medical Use the work will examine the current administration of MCAP, including the application process and practical operation of the scheme.
