The TGA has introduced an online tool aimed at reducing the administrative burden on health practitioners applying for approval to prescribe unregistered medicines such as medicinal cannabis.
The TGA says the pathway to prescribing medicinal cannabis legally for a patient, the Special Access Scheme Category B (SAS B) online system will allow doctors to apply for SAS B directly online.
Before this, prescribers of so-called “unapproved” medicinal cannabis products have been required to apply separately to the TGA and the relevant state or territory health department for authorisation using a paper-based application. The new system will also act as a one-stop-shop application form for both federal and state approvals.
“We welcome the efforts of the TGA to streamline the application process for the Special Access Scheme, currently the fastest way for a doctor to get approval to prescribe medicinal cannabis,” Cannabis Access Clinics Medical Director Dr Sanjay Nijhawan said. “There are many patients who could potentially benefit from medicinal cannabis treatments and a system that supports fast, efficient and streamlined approvals for the right patients is a positive.”
