Free cannabis oil to be supplied to Thai hospitals

The Thai Ministry of Public Health announced last week that three types of’cannabis oil had been added to Thailand's National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). Now that cannabis is on the list of «essential medicines», public hospitals can freely prescribe cannabis extract oil to patients in certain circumstances, according to the Government Pharmaceutical Organization of Thailand (GPO).

The first type of cannabis oil contains a higher percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. The second type has a higher rate of CBD, or cannabidiol. The third solution contains equal levels of THC and CBD, according to Dr Nathakan Suwanpiddokul, GPO pharmacist.

The oil will be used mainly by cancer patients, The oil will also be used to relieve the pain of terminally ill patients, particularly those who have difficulty sleeping or eating. The oil will also be used to relieve the pain of terminally ill patients, especially those who have difficulty sleeping or eating.

The addition of cannabis oil to NLEM will also make this much more accessible in Thailand, The government covers the costs for anyone prescribed cannabis oil in a public hospital.

Nationwide, doctors in 893 public hospitals can now prescribe cannabis oil to patients. In total, there are now 1,173 cannabis dispensaries in Thailand, according to the Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul.

Anutin stated that the use of cannabis for medical purposes is one of the most important policies of the Ministry of Health. The country recently announced that it was giving away 1 million cannabis plants to its citizens to contribute to the national production effort.

«It is gratifying that all three medical cannabis extract oil formulations have been included in the NLEM. On May 14, this will not only provide patients with more healthcare options, but also strengthen the country's medicine. It also reduces the cost of importing expensive medicines from abroad.»