“Not everyone responds to cannabinoids. Some people have a favorable clinical response and will be relieved, while others will not”*
Head of clinic HUG, Déborah Lidsk-Haziz
The Council of States confirmed on Monday the desire to lift the ban on therapeutic cannabis in Switzerland. Currently issued under authorization, the change of law will avoid this administrative step. However, the treatments will not be reimbursed by LaMal, reports Radio Télévision Suisse.*
Les médecins pourront prescrire du cannabis à des fins médicales sans autorisation. Après le National, le Conseil des Etats a accepté lundi à l’unanimité la modification de la loi sur les stupéfiants. Les malades auront ainsi plus facilement accès à ces médicaments.*
Doctors will be able to prescribe cannabis for medical purposes without authorization. After the National, the Council of States unanimously accepted the modification of the law on narcotics on Monday. Patients will thus have easier access to these drugs.*
Authorized export
According to the Minister of Health Alain Berset, the administrative obstacles and the costly procedure push some patients to obtain supplies directly on the black market. The law will therefore make it possible to better adapt to the current system.*
The cultivation, manufacture and marketing of cannabis for medical use will be possible under the authorization and control system provided by Swissmedic. The commercial export of cannabis for medical use will also be allowed. On the other hand, there is no question of growing your own plants for personal use.*
Medical caution
Despite the growing popularity of the treatment, caution remains in the Primary Medicine Service of HUG. “Not everyone responds to cannabinoids. Some people have a favorable clinical response, will be relieved, while others will not, “explains clinic manager Deborah Lidsk-Haziza. *
She continues, “So there is a variability in the therapeutic response that cannot be explained. This is the reason why it is important not to present it as a miracle cure. However, in some patients it significantly reduces pain associated with, for example, chemotherapy when opioids fail. Prescribed in the second line, it can thus promote sleep while reducing opioids and improving quality of life.”*
The head of clinic nonetheless emphasizes that these drugs do not replace conventional treatments and remain narcotics, which can have significant side effects.*
The law change does not take into account the reimbursement of cannabis-based treatments by compulsory health insurance.*
To date, only one cannabis-based drug, used to relieve the effects of multiple sclerosis, is recognized by Swissmedic and reimbursed by insurance.*
Despite the change in the law, other treatments costing 2 to 300 francs per month can only be reimbursed by LaMal at the request of doctors and at the goodwill of insurance companies, according to the explanations of the Federal Office of Health. public.*
A report from the Federal Department of Home Affairs on the effectiveness of cannabis-based medicines, with a view to possible reimbursement, is expected in 2021.*
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*** ndlr. : –.
