- Patient Need
Patient has a condition potentially treatable with cannabis medicine. Belgium offers two primary access pathways: authorized products (Sativex) and magistral preparation.
- Specialist Physician Evaluation
Specialist physician evaluates the patient and determines the most appropriate cannabis treatment pathway.
- Specialist assessment
- Documented conventional treatment failure
- Condition diagnosis confirmed
- Product available?
Is an authorized cannabis product suitable, or does the patient need a magistral preparation? Sativex is the primary authorized product; magistral preparation provides broader access.
- Authorized Product — Standard Prescription — e.g. Sativex
For patients suitable for an authorized product (currently Sativex), standard prescription by specialist physician. Product dispensed by licensed pharmacy.
- Specialist prescription
- Authorized product (Sativex currently)
- Standard pharmacy dispensing
- Magistral Preparation — Pharmacist compounds from cannabis
A SIGNIFICANT access pathway in Belgium. The pharmacist compounds a preparation from imported cannabis flower or extract using FAMHP-approved formulas. The pharmacist is the manufacturer — this is distinct from standard dispensing.
- Specialist prescription specifying magistral preparation
- FAMHP-approved preparation formula
- Cannabis flower/extract from FAMHP-authorized imports
- Licensed pharmacist with magistral preparation authorization
- Named-Patient Authorization — ATU-equivalent
For products not available via authorized list or magistral preparation, named-patient authorization (ATU-equivalent) is available from FAMHP on a case-by-case basis.
- FAMHP named-patient application
- Specialist clinical justification
- Named-patient authorization issued
- Patient Access Granted ✓
Medication obtained via authorized product, magistral preparation, or named-patient authorization. Ongoing monitoring by prescribing specialist.