Telemedicine and Medical cannabis in Colombia: The Real Scope of Consultation

"Cannabic Telemedicine" is a useful search expression but does not identify a special category created by law. The law concerns health care by telemedicine and its reason may include questions about cannabinoids. The same requirements of professional skills, qualification, consent, clinical history, privacy and clinical autonomy continue to apply.

The consultation serves to evaluate a person, and does not best to confirm his or her need for cannabis. The reasonable result can also be to maintain current treatment, to request information, to recommend another approach, to refer to another professional or to indicate face-to-face valuation.

What the Professional Should Review

The assessment depends on the reason for consultation and the occupational criterion. In general, the condition to be treated, concrete aims, background, previous treatments, response obtained, allergies, consumption of substances, concomitant medicines, risks and monitoring capacity are reviewed for sure decision.

• Symptoms, duration, functional impact and previously established diagnoses.
• Current forms, medicines and supplements to detect duplication or interactions.
• Results, epicrysis or previous concepts that are relevant and have them do not require the professional to adopt conclusions from others.
• A history of mental, cardiovascular, neurological, pregnancy or lactation and other factors that have been found to be relevant by the professional.
• Risk activities such as driving, operating machinery or performing jobs that require sustained alert.

When a telemedicine prescription may exist

Section 19 of Resolution 2654 of 2019 limits the prescription of medicines by telemedicine to interactive telemedicine and synchronous telespresticiticias. That requires real-time interaction in terms of the rule. The authorized professional responded with what was prescribed and could refrain from doing so while exercising his or her autonomy.

Moreover, Decree 2200 of 2005, currently compiled by Decree 780 of 2016, lays down that the prescription should be written after the patient's assessment and related to the registration of his and her conditions and diagnosis in his or her clinical history. It also lays down minimum contents such as identification, medicine, concentration, pharmaceutical form, track, dose, frequency, duration, quantity, validity and prescriptor data, as applicable.

What changes when the product contains cannabinoids

Decree 811 of 2021 regulates secure and informed access to the medical and scientific use of cannabis and the plant. For compounded preparations for human use, it requires production by establishments or authorized pharmaceutical services with good practice and technical direction of a pharmacist. Medical order and product should allow to identify the necessary composition for dose.

Products with THC equal to or more than the monitoring limit are classified as special monitoring products. The official regulations set additional obligations for formulation, management and dispensing. That a product be advertised as "CBD," "natural" or "artisan" does not itself prove its health status, composition, quality or legality.

• A compounded preparation is prepared for an individual patient after a prescription and does not amount to any oil prepared or sold without controls.
• Controlled end products are subject to medical prescription and special monitoring.
• The place of business that it develops or waives should comply with appropriate health authorisations and rules.
• A prescription does not replace the product’s health registration or authorization where required, nor does it legitimize an informal supply chain.

Do the consultation produce a "cannabic certificate"?

The revised standards do not have a universal document with that name that generally authorized to buy, carry, transport, cultivate, travel or consume cannabis. A prescription, a medical certificate about true clinical events or a copy of the clinical history may exist but each document has different objects, contents and boundaries.

The medical certificate as defined by Act 23 of 1981 can atprove the state of health, a prescribed treatment or a medical act. It should be clear, precise and true and have been intended. He or she does not turn his or her doctor into a customs, police, employment or judicial authority and does not guarantee that a third party will accept his or her document for an appropriate procedure.

What to prepare to gain from the consultation

1. 1Identification document and correct contact details.
2. 2A complete list of medicines, supplements, allergies and adverse reactions.
3. 3History of the problem: When it started, what makes it worse, what have been tried and what goal you hope to achieve.
4. 4Relevant clinical aids, without altering or concealing information.
5. 5Questions about expected benefits, uncertainties, adverse effects, interactions, conduct, monitoring and alternatives.
6. 6A private space and sufficient connection for a video call in real time.

Signs of an unreliable offer

• Promises prescription, diagnosis or certificate without evaluation.
• He submits a medical document as a universal permit to any authority.
• He doesn't identify the professional or prevents his ReTHUS check.
• It offers products without explaining manufacturer, composition, health condition or authorized dispensing channel.
• He suggests to hide background, modify documents or use an issue for another person.

What does CAMED do with this process

CAMED as a technological platform coordinates access to independent professionals. The care provider retains the clinical decision and responsibility for diagnosis, treatment, prescription and documents. CAMED isn't a pharmacy and the co-ordination of an appointment doesn't guarantee a prescription and a product's dispensing.