Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz
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Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz · Jul 2019
Review[Cannabis for medical purposes and its prescription].
Since 10 March 2017, physicians have been allowed to prescribe cannabis to patients with serious illnesses and in the absence of alternative therapies. Patients can obtain it as dried flowers or extracts in standardised pharmaceutical quality by prescription (narcotic prescription, except for cannabidiol) in pharmacies. When prescribing, physicians have to take a few things into account. ⋯ Also, due to the complex pharmacology of cannabinoids, interindividual genetic differences in the metabolisation of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the individual structure and function of the cannabinoid receptors, as well as differences in receptor density and distribution, the dosage and frequency of application must be individually determined. Last but not least, the dosage also depends on the type of disease and individual susceptibility to side effects. When prescribed for the first time, a creeping dosage with a very low initial dose is recommended.
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Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz · Jul 2019
Review[Interim analysis of the survey accompanying insurance-covered prescriptions of cannabis-based medicines in Germany].
In Germany, medical doctors who prescribe cannabis medicines at the expense of the statutory health insurance are obliged to take part in a noninterventional survey on the use of these cannabis medicines. The survey collects and evaluates anonymized treatment data and runs until 31 March 2022. Amongst other things, the results of the accompanying survey are the basis on which the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) regulates the future assumption of treatment costs in the context of a therapy with cannabis medicines in accordance with the Social Code (SGB) V. ⋯ Most often, insufficient effect was the reason for a discontinuation of treatment. The main indication of pain was already apparent in the licensing procedure for the acquisition of cannabis for medical purposes between the years 2005 and 2016. Further evaluations and subgroup analysis will be carried out when higher case numbers are available.
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Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz · Jul 2019
Review[Cannabis for medical purposes-the law of March 2017 and its history].
Since March 2017, the law amending narcotic and other regulations has expanded the options for prescribing cannabis-derived medicines by doctors. Under certain conditions, patients can be treated with cannabis-derived medicines at the expense of the statutory health insurance. With a prescription, cannabis-derived medicines may be available that are not approved as a finished medicinal product. ⋯ The decisive legal regulation increases the responsibility of doctors and pharmacists in supplying their patients with cannabis-derived medicines. A five-year monitoring survey is being conducted by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) to evaluate the effects on patient care. In order to ensure the supply of cannabis-derived medicines in the future, the cultivation of cannabis in Germany is planned under the conditions of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs under the control of a cannabis agency.
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Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz · Mar 2019
[Personal preconditions for the prevention of nosocomial infections-guidelines of the German Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO), federal state hygiene regulations in Germany, and compliance by hospitals in Frankfurt am Main].
According to the amendment of the Infection Protection Act (2011), § 23, 8, all federal states in Germany had to pass their own hospital hygiene regulations, in which the need for hygiene specialists in a hospital is defined. This publication explains in its first part the differences between the nationwide Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO) regulations and the hygiene regulations of the different federal states (Hesse, Bavaria, etc.). All federal states - with the exception of Hesse (Hessian Hygiene Regulation, HHygVO) - refer to the relevant expert recommendations of KRINKO. ⋯ However, the need for hospital hygienists could not be met, because there is an insufficient number of physician specialists for hospital hygiene available in Germany. The hospitals cannot solve this problem on their own - a political, superordinate decision and regulation must be made, i. e. by regulation and financial support for the advanced training of post-graduate physicians in hygiene. This is important since only experienced hospital hygienists can instruct or supervise hygiene specialists-in-training.
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Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz · Nov 2018
Review[The global medical network Education Against Tobacco-voluntary tobacco prevention made in Germany].
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of premature death in Germany. The network "Education Against Tobacco" (EAT) is an initiative that was founded in Germany in 2012, in which more than 3500 medical students and physicians engage in volunteer work in about 80 medical faculties in 14 countries. In this article, the concept, activities, objectives and associated research studies oft he EAT initiative are introduced. ⋯ The programme educates several hundred prospective physicians at 13 (of 28 participating) German medical faculties each year in science-based elective courses for the well-established smoking cessation counselling of patients and sensitises them to the tobacco epidemic. The approved members engage in dialogue with local members of the German house of representatives as "Ärzteverband Tabakprävention". EAT motivates the prospective generation of physicians, initially through prevention in school settings, to face the challenge of national tobacco control at the university and federal level.