Czech GP's can now prescribe cannabis.

Until now, prescribing medicinal cannabis was limited to specialists, of which there are approximately 250 in the Czech Republic. However, a new decree from the Ministry of Health allows general practitioners to prescribe cannabis to patients with chronic pain that does not respond to other forms of treatment. This step is considered logical, as general practitioners already can prescribe strong opiates such as morphine or fentanyl. The Chairman of the Association of General Practitioners, Petr Šonka, welcomed the change, saying: “In terms of the strength of the drug and the side effects, it is a significantly safer treatment.

Simplification of administration

Another significant change is the reduction of the administrative burden for doctors. They will no longer have to report detailed data on patients treated with cannabis to the State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL) every year. Prescriptions for medicinal cannabis will also be valid for up to three months, which is a significant extension compared to the previous one-month period. Patients will thus be able to obtain up to 540 grams of dry matter per doctor's visit, with health insurers covering 90% of the costs for a maximum of 30 grams per month.

Cannabis is more accessible to minor patients.

The new rules also allow the prescription of medicinal cannabis to patients under the age of 18. However, this measure only applies to palliative care or oncological treatment in specialized facilities, for example for children with terminal illnesses such as leukaemia. Prescribing cannabis in these cases remains the responsibility of specialists.

The future of medical cannabis in the Czech Republic

Despite these positive changes, experts point to persistent problems. The cannabis prescribing system is still more complicated than that for opiates, which may discourage some doctors from using it. Doctor Pavel Kubů from the Kopac Association expressed concerns that general practitioners will not be able to accept new patients en masse due to the limits of their practice.

According to statistics from the National Monitoring Center for Drugs and Addiction, more than half a million Czechs use cannabis for self-medication, while only around eight thousand patients have legal access to medical cannabis. The new changes could improve this situation, but administrative obstacles and a limited range of indications still prevent the wideruse of this form of therapy.

It remains to be seen whether the remaining barriers will be overcome and more patients will be able to access the natural alternative to traditional analgesics. The legislation is moving in the right direction, but its full potential will depend on further reforms and the willingness of the healthcare system to adapt to new conditions and forms of treatment.

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