These initial medications, oral drops produced by a Spanish manufacturer, are set to become available in Ukrainian pharmacies as early as early 2025 and will be accessible through electronic prescriptions.
The registration of medical cannabis medicines was announced by the Patients of Ukraine charity fund. "The first medicines based on medical cannabis have been officially registered in Ukraine. They are oral drops of the Spanish brand. The medicines may appear in Ukrainian pharmacies as early as early 2025," the report states.
Member of Parliament Olga Stefanyshyna added, "The first manufacturer has already registered the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), so the first medicines will soon appear in pharmacies."
In addition to oral drops, other forms of medical cannabis products are expected to reach pharmacies shortly. These include hard capsules, toothpastes, and gels, all of which received approval from the Ministry of Health in 2024.
A comprehensive list of diseases and conditions eligible for medical cannabis treatment has also been approved. Doctors will be able to prescribe medical cannabis to patients suffering from chronic pain, Parkinson's disease, nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, Tourette syndrome, drug-resistant epilepsy, childhood seizure disorders, and anorexia due to HIV.
"Inna Ivanenko, executive director of the Patients of Ukraine Foundation, emphasized the need for expanding the list of eligible conditions. 'So far, the list of conditions is not progressive. The patient community insists that PTSD should be included in this list. We have managed to allow the drug to be prescribed for other conditions based on the conclusions of the medical advisory commission in hospitals with a scientific basis. This will provide access to treatment for a larger number of patients who need it,' she stated."
Medicines based on medical cannabis will be dispensed in pharmacies through electronic prescriptions issued by doctors in the patient's name. Pharmacies authorized to distribute these medicines must hold three licenses: one for retail trade, one for drug manufacturing, and another for the circulation of narcotic substances.
The Ministry of Health estimates that approximately 6 million patients in Ukraine require medicines based on medical cannabis. For over five years, the patient community has been advocating for the availability of these medications to improve the quality of life for those in need.
