Information for patients
Becoming a medicinal cannabis patient looks a bit different to the traditional route.
Let us break it down for you.
Are you eligible for medicinal cannabis?
Cannabis is a highly personal medication. You’ll need to chat with your doctor to be sure it’s right for you. To be eligible for a medicinal cannabis prescription in Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) says a patient must:
1. Have a chronic medical condition
The condition must be diagnosed by a medical professional, with symptoms lasting at least 3 months.
2. Have already tried other forms of treatment
And other treatments didn’t help or had intolerable side-effects.
Your doctor might take other factors into account to decide if you’re a fit for medicinal cannabis. Check out the TGA website for up-to-date information about access and treatment options.
How to access medicinal cannabis in Australia
Let’s walk through the patient journey step-by-step.
Visit your GP
Medicinal cannabis can only be prescribed by a registered medical practitioner after a thorough assessment of your condition and circumstances.
We recommend seeing the general practitioner (GP) who’s been treating your condition so far. They’ll have better context on your medical history than a new GP.
Your GP could also refer you to a specialist cannabis doctor or clinic for further consultation.
Discuss your pathway options
If your GP is not already an authorised prescriber and decides you’re a fit, they’ll start you on one of two treatment pathways.
They will either:·
a. apply for approval under the Special Access Scheme (SAS-B) to prescribe your medicine themselves
b. refer you to a medicinal cannabis specialist.
Let’s look a bit closer at those options.
If your doctor chooses this option, they’ll lodge a SAS-B application with the TGA for their approval to treat you. They’ll need to back up their recommendation that you be prescribed medicinal cannabis with specifics about your condition and their plan to monitor your treatment. A SAS-B request takes around 2 days to be approved. After that, your doctor will give you a treatment plan and your prescription. They’ll let you know where you can get it filled.
If your doctor chooses this pathway, they’ll refer you to a specialised medicinal cannabis doctor or clinic. They’ll share your medical history and any context the specialist might need.In this case, the specialist decides whether you’d benefit from medicinal cannabis, not your GP.
At your referral appointment, they’ll want to talk through your medical condition and history to make up their mind. If the new doctor is an Authorised Prescriber, they can write you a script on the spot. If not, they’ll need to get SAS-B approval. After a roughly 2-day wait, they’ll give you a treatment plan and your prescription, and tell you where to get it filled.
Call your pharmacy
Not all pharmacies keep medicinal cannabis on hand(though more and more do). The pharmacist may need to order your medication directly, so it’s best to call ahead before you go in. If they need to place an order, they’ll let you know how long it will take to arrive.
Get started – and follow your doctor’s guidance
Time to start treatment! You’ll probably be keen to get going. Before you do, make sure you understand how to use your new medication. Read the Consumer Medical Information (your doctor or pharmacist can provide this) and follow your doctor’s treatment, titration and dosing recommendations closely.
Check-in with your healthcare provider
Your prescribing doctor will check in with you to track and, if they need to, adjust your treatment plan. Ask them any questions that come to mind, and take notes if it’s helpful.
Already a SatiVite patient?
If you already have a valid prescription for a SatiVite product, contact your prescribing doctor or pharmacist for help with availability or access. If you need more info, feel free to contact us.