In unfortunate news out of Germany today, lawmakers approved the Statutory Health Insurance Contribution Stabilisation Act (BStabG). The measure eliminates statutory health insurance reimbursements for medical cannabis flowers, among other changes. Medical cannabis organizations were quick to point out how harmful the approval of the measure is for suffering patients.

“As a result, only two different THC-containing finished medicinal products (Sativex and Exilby) will be available for initiating therapy for patients covered by statutory health insurance. Neither of these is suitable for inhalation during acute pain. Therefore, many patients covered by statutory health insurance who have reimbursement for cannabis flowers are left without an adequate alternative therapy.” the German Hemp Association (DHV) wrote in a press release (translated from German to English).

“Likewise, it cannot be assumed that the general switch from cannabis flowers to more expensive finished medicinal products will result in any savings in the supply of medical cannabis.” DHV also wrote.

“The Statutory Health Insurance Contribution Stabilisation Act (BStabG), which was passed by the Bundestag today, will make access to individual cannabis therapies massively more difficult.” the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW) wrote in a post on LinkedIn (translated from German to English).

“The new regulation completely misses its actual goal. The costs for the health insurance companies are expected to increase instead of fall as a result, because individual prescriptions are often more economical than expensive ready-to-use drugs. At the same time, the therapeutic sovereignty of the medical profession in the medical cannabis sector is massively curtailed.” managing director of the BvCW Michael Greif stated.

“A blanket priority for finished medicinal products forces doctors into rigid therapy regimens, creates additional bureaucracy and jeopardizes the success of treatment. Therapy decisions must be based on individual medical needs – not on blanket guidelines. Priority would only make medical sense if there is an approved, deliverable preparation for the specific disease and there are no medical objections.” Kathrin Konyen, Coordinator of the Medical Cannabis Department at the BvCW, added.

Below is a graph detailing historical statutory health insurance reimbursements in Germany by category (million €) from CannaMonitor: