Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia is assessing the prospects of a new national compassionate access scheme following the breakdown of its Compass program.
In an email to members, the council said it was looking to “better understand” what existing schemes are in the market ahead of “re-evaluating a whole-of-industry scheme”.
It is unclear precisely what MCCA may be planning, although chairman Geoff Bloom and chief executive Fiona Patten both told Cannabiz at the ACannabis conference last month that the council still hoped to facilitate free or subsidised access to medicinal cannabis.
Patients who need longer term treatment for chronic conditions are in particular need of help, Patten said.
“We have not given up,” she said.
In the meantime, the council has requested information from members about their own compassionate schemes including details of eligibility criteria and how patients and prescribers make a referral or application.
“MCCA is seeking to better understand the compassionate access and patient assistance programs currently available across the sector,” the council said in the email.
“Our aim is to build a clearer picture of the available support and help connect eligible patients and their prescribers with appropriate assistance where available.
“MCCA is in the process of re-evaluating a whole-of-industry scheme that aligns with the charitable purposes of the organisation. In the meantime, we would like to recognise the generosity of the sector in supporting patients who cannot afford the treatment they need.”
Bloom told Cannabiz last month that he recognised the individual work of product companies but said a more “public and structured” pathway would further open up access.