- Patient Need
Patient has a condition potentially treatable with cannabis medicine. Ireland's MCAP covers only three specific conditions: MS spasticity, intractable nausea (chemo-resistant), and severe treatment-resistant epilepsy.
- GP Referral to Consultant Specialist
GP refers patient to a consultant specialist (neurologist, oncologist, or epilepsy specialist). Consultant-level prescribing is mandatory — GPs cannot prescribe under MCAP.
- GP referral letter
- Documented conventional treatment failure
- Condition assessment by consultant
- MCAP Eligibility Assessment
Consultant specialist assesses eligibility against MCAP criteria. Only three conditions qualify: MS spasticity, intractable nausea (chemo-resistant), and severe treatment-resistant epilepsy.
- Confirmed diagnosis: MS spasticity, intractable nausea, or severe treatment-resistant epilepsy
- Documented failure of conventional therapies
- Specialist assessment report
- MCAP eligible?
Patient must meet one of the three MCAP criteria. Conditions outside MCAP may still access cannabis via Section 14 individual license.
- MCAP Authorization + Specialist Prescription
Consultant issues MCAP authorization and prescribes MCAP-approved product. Prescription dispensed through hospital or community pharmacy.
- MCAP authorization issued by consultant
- Specialist prescription for MCAP-approved product
- Products from MCAP-approved suppliers only
- Section 14 License — Outside MCAP
For conditions not covered by MCAP, individual patient authorization is available via Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Minister for Health grants these on a case-by-case basis.
- Section 14 application to Minister for Health
- Specialist clinical justification
- Named-patient authorization
- Processing can take 8–12 weeks
- Patient Access Granted ✓
Medication dispensed via hospital or community pharmacy. Ongoing monitoring by prescribing specialist. MCAP expansion is ongoing — additional conditions may be added.