Justice ensures access to cannabidiol for epilepsy patients in the Federal District
Decision of the TJDFT obliges the local government to maintain the supply of cannabis-based medications, even if not on the SUS list
Sometimes, a mother's life comes down to counting the seconds, not to wait for the end of a difficult day, but to see if her child will come out of another convulsive crisis. In the Federal District, for families living with epilepsy, each drop of cannabidiol is a dose of hope, a breath between the shocks. Now, a court decision reinforces that this relief must be guaranteed.
In a unanimous decision, the Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories (TJDFT) determined that the Government of the Federal District (GDF) must maintain the supply of medications based on cannabidiol (CBD) for epilepsy patients, reinforcing the right already provided for in local law since 2016.
Learn more: Cannabidiol reduces refractory epilepsy seizures by up to 41%, according to a study by USP
The measure brings security to families who often face long bureaucratic and emotional battles in search of an effective treatment. Although the Ministry of Health has not included cannabidiol in the official list of medications of the Unified Health System (SUS), the TJDFT recognized the validity of local legislation, which provides for the use of medicinal cannabis in the public network for specific cases of epilepsy.
According to the DF Health Department, there is no shortage, and 80 patients are currently registered to receive the products in two concentrations: 200 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml. Both are offered in oral solution with a dosing syringe or dropper bottle, and are indicated for severe conditions such as Dravet Syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut, and epilepsy associated with Tuberous Sclerosis.
The dispensing takes place in the so-called “High-Cost Pharmacies,” which are part of the Specialized Component of Pharmaceutical Assistance. According to the official statement, the supply remains stable, complying with local law no. 5.625/16, which amended the Epilepsy Prevention Program and made cannabidiol a tool available to those in need.
For those living the invisible routine of epilepsy, each avoided crisis is a silent victory. The court decision comes to ensure that, in this battlefield, no one is left without access to what science already points to as a light at the end of the tunnel.
With information from G1.