Medical cannabis — prescription, access, reimbursement

Since 1 August 2022 Swiss physicians can prescribe medical cannabis without a special FOPH permit — a milestone that has expanded access from a few hundred to several thousand patients. This hub walks through the entire pathway: first consultation, indication review (chronic pain, MS spasticity, chemotherapy-induced nausea, refractory epilepsy, palliative care), prescription issuance, pickup at specialised pharmacies, and the complex question of reimbursement. Health insurers only cover on a case-by-case basis after application; typical out-of-pocket cost is CHF 300–800/month depending on the formulation (Sativex, dronabinol, magistral oils, dried flower). We compare flower vs extract therapy, document the licensed Swiss producers, and show how patients can obtain complementary access through the pilot framework — including pointers to specialised medical networks.

Since the 2022 Narcotics Act revision the FOPH's special permit is no longer required. We detail the ordinance, document preparations (Sativex, Epidyolex, Bedrocan, Bediol) and the current basic-insurance reimbursement practice for chronic pain, MS spasticity and CINV.