Research funding can be accessed through applications to the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR relies on researchers submitting high-quality applications and welcomes research proposals to evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of cannabis-based products for medicinal use. The NIHR and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will consider novel trial designs and it is not a specific requirement to conduct double blind trials. The MHRA has recently published guidance on the use of real-world data in clinical studies to support regulatory decisions.<\/p>
The NIHR and the National Health Service will be supporting two randomised controlled trials into epilepsy. Alternative research approaches, such as an observational study, were considered in the trial design but discounted as it would not produce robust results nor add to the current evidence base.<\/p>
In 2018, NHS England asked the British Paediatric Neurology Association (BPNA) to develop interim guidance for clinicians in the use and prescription of cannabis\u2010based products for medicinal use in children and young people with epilepsy. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) then published guidelines covering prescribing of cannabis-based medicinal products for people with intractable nausea and vomiting, chronic pain, spasticity and severe treatment-resistant epilepsy. The BPNA has subsequently updated their guidance. As with all decisions to prescribe medicines, the General Medical Council expects doctors to use their professional judgement when deciding to what extent any clinical guidance is relevant.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4492", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Maria Caulfield"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Maria Caulfield"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-02-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "127512"} , {"_value" : "127513"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-02-25T14:51:45.81Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-02-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cannabis: Medical Treatments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government's response to the Health and Social Care Select Committee\u2019s report on Drugs Policy: Medicinal Cannabis, published in September 2019, what steps his Department has taken with the National Institute for Health Research to develop alternative research approaches to support children who are currently receiving cannabis-based products for medicinal use rather than randomised control trials, as set out in that response.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4623", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tonia Antoniazzi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gower"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tonia Antoniazzi"} ], "uin" : "127511"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1434209", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1434209/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Research funding can be accessed through applications to the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR relies on researchers submitting high-quality applications and welcomes research proposals to evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of cannabis-based products for medicinal use. The NIHR and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will consider novel trial designs and it is not a specific requirement to conduct double blind trials. The MHRA has recently published guidance on the use of real-world data in clinical studies to support regulatory decisions.<\/p>
The NIHR and the National Health Service will be supporting two randomised controlled trials into epilepsy. Alternative research approaches, such as an observational study, were considered in the trial design but discounted as it would not produce robust results nor add to the current evidence base.<\/p>
In 2018, NHS England asked the British Paediatric Neurology Association (BPNA) to develop interim guidance for clinicians in the use and prescription of cannabis\u2010based products for medicinal use in children and young people with epilepsy. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) then published guidelines covering prescribing of cannabis-based medicinal products for people with intractable nausea and vomiting, chronic pain, spasticity and severe treatment-resistant epilepsy. The BPNA has subsequently updated their guidance. As with all decisions to prescribe medicines, the General Medical Council expects doctors to use their professional judgement when deciding to what extent any clinical guidance is relevant.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4492", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Maria Caulfield"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Maria Caulfield"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-02-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "127511"} , {"_value" : "127513"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-02-25T14:51:45.873Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-02-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cannabis: Medical Treatments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government response to the Health and Social Care Select Committee\u2019s report on Medicinal Cannabis in September 2019, what plans he has to ensure that the role of guidance from the BPNA relating to medical cannabis is replaced by the recently published guidance by NICE.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4623", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tonia Antoniazzi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gower"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tonia Antoniazzi"} ], "uin" : "127512"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271721", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271721/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
From 1 January, United Kingdom prescriptions, including those in Northern Ireland, will no longer be valid in the Netherlands. There are a small number of patients who rely on certain unlicensed cannabis-based medicines that are supplied in the Netherlands against UK prescriptions, almost all of which are private prescriptions.<\/p>
The Department, supported by the British Embassy to The Hague, has reached an agreement with the Dutch Government to allow the continued supply of Bedrocan oils, a form of unlicensed medicinal cannabis, against United Kingdom prescriptions for existing patients until 1 July 2021. The medicines supply chain has ensured that there continues to be good supply of licensed and unlicensed cannabis-based medicines after the transition period.<\/p>
The Written Ministerial Statement of 26 January (HCWS734<\/a>) provided an update on action taken by the Government on supply from the Netherlands and next steps to establish a more permanent solution.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4380", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Churchill"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bury St Edmunds"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Churchill"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "130806"}
, {"_value" : "130807"}
, {"_value" : "130808"}
, {"_value" : "130809"}
, {"_value" : "130810"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271721/answer/previousversion/72730", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4380", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Churchill"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bury St Edmunds"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Churchill"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-02-12T10:03:33.067Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-12-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cannabis: Medical Treatments"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of children who currently have their UK prescriptions for medical cannabis dispensed in the Netherlands; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4623", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tonia Antoniazzi"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gower"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tonia Antoniazzi"}
], "uin" : "130805"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271722", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271722/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " From 1 January, United Kingdom prescriptions, including those in Northern Ireland, will no longer be valid in the Netherlands. There are a small number of patients who rely on certain unlicensed cannabis-based medicines that are supplied in the Netherlands against UK prescriptions, almost all of which are private prescriptions.<\/p> The Department, supported by the British Embassy to The Hague, has reached an agreement with the Dutch Government to allow the continued supply of Bedrocan oils, a form of unlicensed medicinal cannabis, against United Kingdom prescriptions for existing patients until 1 July 2021. The medicines supply chain has ensured that there continues to be good supply of licensed and unlicensed cannabis-based medicines after the transition period.<\/p> The Written Ministerial Statement of 26 January (HCWS734<\/a>) provided an update on action taken by the Government on supply from the Netherlands and next steps to establish a more permanent solution.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4380", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Churchill"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bury St Edmunds"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Churchill"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "130805"}
, {"_value" : "130807"}
, {"_value" : "130808"}
, {"_value" : "130809"}
, {"_value" : "130810"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-02-12T10:03:33.127Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-12-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cannabis: Medical Treatments"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that children who currently have their UK prescriptions for medical cannabis dispensed in the Netherlands will still be able to receive their medicine at the end of the transition period; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4623", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tonia Antoniazzi"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gower"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tonia Antoniazzi"}
], "uin" : "130806"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271723", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271723/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " From 1 January, United Kingdom prescriptions, including those in Northern Ireland, will no longer be valid in the Netherlands. There are a small number of patients who rely on certain unlicensed cannabis-based medicines that are supplied in the Netherlands against UK prescriptions, almost all of which are private prescriptions.<\/p> The Department, supported by the British Embassy to The Hague, has reached an agreement with the Dutch Government to allow the continued supply of Bedrocan oils, a form of unlicensed medicinal cannabis, against United Kingdom prescriptions for existing patients until 1 July 2021. The medicines supply chain has ensured that there continues to be good supply of licensed and unlicensed cannabis-based medicines after the transition period.<\/p> The Written Ministerial Statement of 26 January (HCWS734<\/a>) provided an update on action taken by the Government on supply from the Netherlands and next steps to establish a more permanent solution.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4380", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Churchill"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bury St Edmunds"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Churchill"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "130805"}
, {"_value" : "130806"}
, {"_value" : "130808"}
, {"_value" : "130809"}
, {"_value" : "130810"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271723/answer/previousversion/72731", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4380", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Churchill"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bury St Edmunds"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Churchill"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-02-12T10:03:33.177Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-12-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cannabis: Medical Treatments"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with (i) patients, (ii) patient groups, (iii) special import pharmacies and (iv) prescribing clinicians on the ability to switch at short notice between different medical cannabis products; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4623", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tonia Antoniazzi"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gower"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tonia Antoniazzi"}
], "uin" : "130807"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271725", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271725/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " From 1 January, United Kingdom prescriptions, including those in Northern Ireland, will no longer be valid in the Netherlands. There are a small number of patients who rely on certain unlicensed cannabis-based medicines that are supplied in the Netherlands against UK prescriptions, almost all of which are private prescriptions.<\/p> The Department, supported by the British Embassy to The Hague, has reached an agreement with the Dutch Government to allow the continued supply of Bedrocan oils, a form of unlicensed medicinal cannabis, against United Kingdom prescriptions for existing patients until 1 July 2021. The medicines supply chain has ensured that there continues to be good supply of licensed and unlicensed cannabis-based medicines after the transition period.<\/p> The Written Ministerial Statement of 26 January (HCWS734<\/a>) provided an update on action taken by the Government on supply from the Netherlands and next steps to establish a more permanent solution.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4380", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Churchill"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bury St Edmunds"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Churchill"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "130805"}
, {"_value" : "130806"}
, {"_value" : "130807"}
, {"_value" : "130809"}
, {"_value" : "130810"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271725/answer/previousversion/72732", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4380", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Churchill"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bury St Edmunds"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Churchill"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-02-12T10:03:33.237Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-12-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cannabis: Medical Treatments"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that children who have their UK prescriptions for medical cannabis dispensed in the Netherlands will continue to receive their medicine after the transition period; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4623", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tonia Antoniazzi"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gower"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tonia Antoniazzi"}
], "uin" : "130808"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271726", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271726/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " From 1 January, United Kingdom prescriptions, including those in Northern Ireland, will no longer be valid in the Netherlands. There are a small number of patients who rely on certain unlicensed cannabis-based medicines that are supplied in the Netherlands against UK prescriptions, almost all of which are private prescriptions.<\/p> The Department, supported by the British Embassy to The Hague, has reached an agreement with the Dutch Government to allow the continued supply of Bedrocan oils, a form of unlicensed medicinal cannabis, against United Kingdom prescriptions for existing patients until 1 July 2021. The medicines supply chain has ensured that there continues to be good supply of licensed and unlicensed cannabis-based medicines after the transition period.<\/p>