In Ukraine, the first dispensing of medical cannabis products has been carried out
According to the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control, approximately 36 public and 30 private entities hold the relevant licenses across 180 practice locations. Currently, medical cannabis-based medicines can be purchased in six pharmacies of one licensed entity in Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi. Around 17 more pharmacies are expected to join the list soon.
Medical cannabis-based medicines are prescribed according to the list of diseases and conditions approved by the Ministry of Health. For example, for chronic or neuropathic pain and spasticity caused by malignant neoplasms, diabetic neuropathy, and multiple sclerosis; for nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy in cancer treatment; in Parkinson’s disease and others. In general, this applies to cases where other medicines do not provide the expected therapeutic effect or cause adverse reactions.
Dosage and treatment regimen are determined individually by the physician, taking into account the patient’s age, weight, health condition, comorbidities, and other factors.
Medicines can be obtained only with an electronic prescription issued by a primary care physician or a specialist. The validity period of an e-prescription for medical cannabis-based medicines is 10 days from the date of issuance.
To obtain medical cannabis-based medicines:
1. Consult a physician. If medical indications are present, the physician will issue an electronic prescription. The prescription specifies the dosage form, dose, and composition of active substances.
2. Receive prescription details. You will receive a notification with the e-prescription number and redemption code. If you do not have a phone, the physician will provide a printed information note.
3. Visit a pharmacy. Information about the nearest pharmacy where such medicines can be obtained is available via the National Health Service hotline at 16-77.
4. Receive the medicine. At the pharmacy, you must provide the pharmacist with the e-prescription number and confirmation code from the notification.
If the ready-made medicine or pharmacy-prepared formulation is available, it is dispensed after the prescription is redeemed. If the medicine needs to be compounded, the pharmacist will inform the patient about the date of the next visit. During the follow-up visit, the e-prescription number and confirmation code must be provided again.
As a reminder, Law of Ukraine No. 3528-IX “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding State Regulation of the Circulation of Cannabis Plants (Cannabis) for Educational, Scientific and Scientific-Technical Activities, Production of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances, and Medicinal Products to Expand Patient Access to Necessary Treatment” entered into force on August 16, 2024. To implement its provisions, several subordinate regulatory acts were adopted, defining the procedures for the production, import, compounding, accounting, dispensing, and control of medical cannabis-based medicines.
