SP defines syndromes treated with cannabidiol – 06/06/2023 – Health

The government of São Paulo defined on Monday (5) the regulation of CBD (cannabidiol)-based medicines that will be supplied by the SUS (Unified Health System).

In January, governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) sanctioned the law that provides that the distribution of products based on the substance, which is derived from cannabisby the state health network.

In this first moment, people with Dravet Syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and tuberous sclerosis will be able to receive CBD-based medicines. The three contemplated syndromes are rare and characterized by generalized epileptic seizures.

To define which diseases would receive the drugs, the state government created a commission made up of representatives of medical associations, medical schools, Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) and the State Health Secretariat, in addition to those appointed by the Judiciary. and by the São Paulo Legislature.

A Sheet, two members of the working group, who asked not to be identified, said there was resistance to approval of cannabidiol for the treatment of refractory epilepsy and autism. According to the members, representatives of medical associations stated that there is a lack of scientific evidence for the inclusion of the two diseases at this time.

In a note, the State Secretary of Health stated that the purpose of the law is to allow those with clinical conditions for which there is evidence of positive results with the use of CBD to benefit from these resources as soon as possible.

The commission should continue to meet weekly to study new technical opinions and discuss the inclusion of more CBD-based drugs. The forecast is that the inclusion of treatments for refractory seizures, refractory pain and conditions associated with autism, among other diseases, will be analyzed in the near future.

The expectation, according to the members heard by the report, is that the next authorization for the use of CBD will be for those who suffer from chronic pain.

The group has already ruled out the possibility of releasing the drugs for psychological illnesses, such as depression and anxiety. The new regulation applies only to the São Paulo state public system — private use has other rules.

The expectation of the Tarcísio government is to allow people with clinical conditions for which there is evidence of positive results with the use of CBD to benefit from these resources as soon as possible.

In 2021, the Sheet showed that the judicialization in the SUS for access to products based on medicinal Cannabis was increasing in São Paulo.

According to data from the State Department of Health, there were 154 lawsuits determining that the São Paulo government offer these products in 2021, against 122 in 2019.

The average public expenditure per year was R$ 4 million. Most of these lawsuits call for treatments for epilepsy, childhood autism, pervasive developmental disorders, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, severe depression, rheumatoid arthritis and migraine.