More pharmacies to dispense medicinal cannabis

More pharmacies will be able to apply for a licence to dispense the products in July

The Isle of Man's medicinal cannabis dispensing service is set to expand to more pharmacies after a trial "built confidence in governance", the health minister has said.

A pilot, extended in November, saw Karsons Pharmacy in Onchan awarded the licence to import and dispense the products for those with private prescriptions.

Lawrie Hooper MHK said a subsequent review had "not identified any risk or cause for concern" that would stop the health department changing licence provisions.

An "unrestricted number of pharmacies" would be able to apply for a licence from 8 July, he told members of the House of Keys on Tuesday.

'Long term'

Medicinal cannabis is not currently available on the Manx NHS and there are no GPs registered to prescribe it - but the pharmacy service opens to the door for patients on the Isle of Man to be given the product after obtaining prescriptions from private clinics in England.

Using those prescriptions, the island's pharmacies will then be able to dispense the medicine.

Mr Hooper said the Department of Health and Social Care made the decision to expand the service to support a "long-term licencing regime", with due consideration given "to patient accessibility, affordability and safety".

The minister said he hoped it would provide a "more effective and more patient-centric service".

Mr Hooper also explained that the department would be seeking to make changes to import licences to allow for greater quantity limits, which will "hopefully reduce costs" for pharmacies.

In response to a question by Michelle Haywood MHK about demand, the minister said there was "likely" to be an increase, which was in part due to a "slight misunderstanding" of what the products can be used for.

Six-monthly inspections to "ensure compliance" are also set to be introduced, he added.