Fair access remains our goal
At MedCan we have been committed to fair access to medical use of cannabis for everyone for years - regardless of income or social status. We are concerned with concern the price development in the area of cannabis flowers, which could seriously endanger access for many. High -quality medical flowers range between CHF 8 and CHF 18.– per gram in Switzerland, but most in the range from CHF 10.– to CHF 14.–. A 10-gram bag costs up to CHF 180.–. For patients with a monthly regulation of, for example, 60 grams, for example, the monthly costs quickly increase to CHF 900 or more - up to around CHF 10,800 per year. This cannot be financed for many chronically ill people.
We have deliberately chosen cannabis flowers for this model calculation, since they currently represent the best financed form for many patients - even if other forms of income were sometimes more suitable from a medical point of view.
Medicine, not lifestyle
Most of the people affected who have medically dependent on cannabis are part of a particularly vulnerable group. They do not relate cannabis to wellness or lifestyle increase, but need it as vital medicine in order to be able to maintain their quality of life at all. For many, access to effective therapy means that despite serious chronic illnesses, it is still actively participating in social life or even being able to stay working.
Preserve quality of life and prevent social isolation
Medical cannabis enables pain, spastics or other stressful symptoms to alleviate and thus preserve a minimum level of independence and dignity. Without effective treatment, social isolation, incapacity to work and the loss of independence threaten. As a result, many patients are also in financial emergencies or are forced to give up their social contacts, which massively affects the quality of life. A safe, affordable supply is therefore not only a question of health, but also social participation and social justice.
Assumption of costs is urgently necessary
Many affected people rely on IV services or other support mechanisms. Against this background, the assumption of costs by the health insurance companies is not only desirable, but urgently necessary. Without financial support, many are denied access to effective therapy - with serious consequences for their health, their participation and their life perspective.
Danger of a two -class medicine
If the medical use of cannabis is still practically affordable for better earning, we are heading for dangerous two -class medicine - something that Medcan decidedly rejects. High quality deserves fair compensation. But a balance between quality, economy and broader access is essential. Premium positioning must not lead to 80 % of the patients excluded from the start.
Call for common solutions
Medcan calls all involved - producers, importers, pharmacies and authorities - to carefully observe this development and to find solutions together. Fair prices and transparent models are needed - but also structural solutions such as a binding cost - so that medical cannabis is open to everyone who really need it.
We look forward to an open and constructive dialogue in the interest of all patients in Switzerland.
