A brand new challenge, designed to point out how hashish could be cost-effective on the NHS, is because of get underway subsequent month.
Consultants at York Well being Economics Consortium are to develop a versatile well being economics evaluation instrument to judge the feasibility of prescribing hashish on the NHS.
The analysis will embrace a monetary comparability of hashish and different remedies for tackling power ache, alongside a consideration of price and outcomes over a one-year time interval.
The challenge, which is being supported by the Hashish Business Council (CIC) and Drug Science, is because of begin subsequent month after securing funding from a variety of backers.
The instrument will contemplate the prices, useful resource use and utility of medicinal hashish and can assess the viability of prescribing hashish on the NHS underneath completely different scientific assumptions. Chair of the CIC, Professor Mike Barnes, has beforehand stated he believes hashish may very well be made obtainable on the NHS at a ‘net-zero’ price.
Glass Pharms, Ethypharm and Rua Bioscience have supplied monetary help, whereas extra funding was secured through an business crowdfunder, held in late 2022.
The challenge hoped to lift £18,000-20,000, of which over 50% has been secured, Hashish Well being understands.
James Duckenfield, CEO of Glass Pharms, commented: “A latest research printed within the US has proven power ache sufferers utilizing medical hashish had been capable of cut back their use of different ache drugs by greater than 50%. If the NHS was to supply this within the UK, we may see advantages each for sufferers and potential price financial savings for healthcare.
“We’re supporting this well being economics evaluation to assist present the information wanted for the NHS to make an knowledgeable choice on this.”
Drug Science may also make T21 project data obtainable to the researchers.
“Many sufferers are efficiently utilizing cannabis-based medicinal merchandise to deal with power ache. Sadly, within the UK, medical hashish just isn’t at the moment obtainable via the NHS to deal with this situation, that means that sufferers face important prices to entry the drugs through non-public healthcare,” stated Anne Katrin Schlag, head of analysis at Drug Science.
“Drug Science is worked up that our well being economics evaluation goes forward as, for any future NHS approval, it is very important discover out whether or not medical hashish shall be cost-effective when in comparison with different remedies at the moment obtainable.”
The challenge is anticipated to be accomplished inside the first half of 2023.
Mike Morgan-Giles, CEO of the Hashish Business Council, added: “Offering the NHS with the financial case for increasing hashish prescriptions is crucial if we’re to assist sufferers receive the drugs they should deal with their situations.
“The Hashish Business Council is subsequently delighted that the challenge can now kick off, and we’re grateful to Glass Pharms, Ethypharm, Rua Bioscience, and different funders for his or her help.”