The first medicines based on medical cannabis were registered in Ukraine

Medicines based on medical cannabis in the form of oral drops produced by the Spanish brand Curaleaf have been registered for the first time in Ukraine. About this on January 8 reported in the “Patients of Ukraine” charity fund.
According to the association, this is the first active pharmaceutical ingredient based on medical cannabis registered in the country. Oral drops are expected to appear in manufacturing pharmacies already in the first half of 2025.
In addition to oral drops, other forms of cannabis-based medicines will soon be available in pharmacies, including hard capsules, toothpastes and gels, which have been approved by the Ministry of Health in 2024.
The Ministry also defined a list of diseases for the treatment of which doctors can prescribe drugs based on medical cannabis. This list includes chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, Tourette syndrome, drug-resistant epilepsy, seizures in children, and anorexia due to HIV.
“While the list of conditions is not progressive. The patient community insists that PTSD should be included in this list. While we have been able to achieve that the drug can be prescribed for other conditions based on the opinion of the medical advisory board in hospitals with a scientific basis. This will provide access to treating more patients who need it”, — said the executive director of “Patients of Ukraine” Inna Ivanenko.
Medicines based on medical cannabis will be dispensed in pharmacies with an electronic prescription issued in the name of the patient. Manufacturing pharmacies must have three licenses: for retail trade, manufacture of drugs and circulation of narcotic substances.