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RACGP backs plan to provide access to medicinal cannabis within 48 hours
RACGP President Dr Bastian Seidel has applauded the Federal Government’s proposed plan to allow patients access to medicinal cannabis products within 48 hours.
Dr Bastian Seidel believes GPs are in an excellent position to prescribe medicinal cannabis, without the need to refer to other specialists for approval to prescribe.
The Federal Government this morning proposed a nationally consistent approval process that would see eligible patients able to gain access to medicinal cannabis within 48 hours.
The proposal, which is partly in response to the RACGP’s advice to streamline the application process and introduce a nationwide approach, is scheduled to be submitted at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting this Friday.
RACGP President Dr Bastian Seidel firmly believes this change will help to improve quality of life and ease GPs’ frustration when it comes to the process of prescribing medicinal cannabis.
‘Prime Minister Turnbull’s proposal brings us a step closer to Australian GPs’ commitment to a nationally consistent framework for medicinal cannabis access,’ he told newsGP.
Dr Seidel described the current application process for medicinal cannabis access as onerous and lengthy, and believes it does not place adequate value on the role specialist GPs play.
‘GPs are in an excellent position to prescribe medicinal cannabis, without the need to refer to other specialists for approval to prescribe,’ he said. ‘Patients and doctors should not have to jump through hoops and wait months to access a drug that may improve a patient’s quality of life.
The new prescribing rules would involve a single-approval process for allowing patients to access medicinal cannabis under the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) – a significant change from the current situation, which varies across states and territories and involves an average two-day turnaround for decisions on applications.
Although supportive of the decision by the Federal Government – and the significant positive outcomes it should bring to Australian healthcare – Dr Seidel is also aware that medicinal cannabis is an emerging field and there is still confusion about who can access the drug.
‘Medicinal cannabis is never the first line of treatment for any medical condition, but there is substantial evidence that it might be the treatment of last resort for some patients,’ he said.
‘If I have a patient who has tried all standard treatment options without success, I should be able to consider prescribing medicinal cannabis as a viable treatment option without having to wait months.’
‘Prime Minister Turnbull’s proposal is compassionate, logical, and the only way forward for Australian GPs and their patients.’
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