Aheinga turoro
Compassionate Patient Access

Hei oranga tangata. We invest in people.

In Te Tairawhiti, we’ve experienced first-hand how economic systems can place pressure on our whenua (land) and how those made most vulnerable as a result are also often excluded from any financial benefit.

Rua Bioscience champions equity through its Compassionate Access Programme, a fundamental aspect of our Impact Programme. This initiative aims to supply medicinal cannabis to individuals facing financial constraints. In Te Tairawhiti, an economically challenged region with a rich history of manaakitanga, this program aligns with the ethos of caring for those in need.

We extend an invitation to compassionate individuals who share our vision to contribute to this program, emphasizing the importance of investing in the health of East Coast residents. Your support is warmly welcomed.

Rua supplied medicinal cannabis to 30 Tairawhiti patients per month in 2023.

In April 2024 with the help of Trust Tairawhiti and an anonymous donation, we increased that number to 37.

Our aim is to support even more!

Sponsor Patients

37 patients are covered under the Compassionate Access Programme currently. With your help we can grow that number and ensure that more patients in need can access medicinal cannabis.

Your contribution to the Impact Programme will be acknowledged on our webpage, to our prescriber network, and of course to recipients.

We invite you to participate in this programme by either of the two options.

1. Fund Prescriptions

If your product is approved in NZ, we invite you to fund the prescription of your product to a number of patients in Te Tairāwhiti.

2. Provide Koha

We invite you to contribute a koha (Donation) towards funding the prescription of an approved product for patients in Te Tairāwhiti.

General FAQ’s

  • This initiative aims to supply medicinal cannabis to individuals facing financial constraints. In Te Tairawhiti, an economically challenged region with a rich history of manaakitanga, this program aligns with the ethos of caring for those in need.

  • Once a patient is deemed eligible for the programme by their doctor, the doctor will endorse the application and apply on their behalf. The doctor will be notified when the patient is placed either on the programme or on the waiting list.

  • Currently 37 patients per month, and growing with the support of others.

  • We would love to do more but as an early stage company we must focus on creating a sustainable business first. We are encouraging others to sponsor patients so we increase the numbers of patients we support.

  • The decisions are independantly decided by the Doctor and staff at CDC.

    The Doctor will first asses the patient for eligibility and if they think they meet the criteria of the programme, they can apply to CDC for the patient to be added to the programme.

    CDC assess the application against the number of spaces on the programme. If there is not enough spaces on the programme, CDC maintain the application on the waiting list.

I am a Doctor

  • The patient is a resident of Tairawhiti, New Zealand.

    You are a prescriber in the Te Whatu Ora Tairawhiti District

    You have concluded that your patient’s condition may benefit from treatment with the medicinal cannabis product.

    Treatment with the medicinal cannabis product (being an unregistered medicine provided under section 29 of the Medicines Act 1981) is a better clinical option for your patient than a first-line treatment or registered medicine.

    You have identified that affordability is presenting a significant barrier for your patient to access the medicinal cannabis product.

  • Medicinal Cannabis products that have been assessed as meeting the Minimum Quality Standard (MQS). This list is constantly updated by the NZ Ministry of Health and can be found here. Medicinal Cannabis Product List. Medicinal Cannabis Product List

    Up to 30mL of any oil product,

    or

    10g of any dried flower product

    per patient per month

  • 30mL of any oil product

    or

    10g of any dried flower product

    per patient per month

  • If your patient meets the criteria, please fill out this the form fill out the Application Form and email to rua@cdc.co.nz

I am a Patient

  • Talk to your Doctor in the first instance. All applications to the Compassionate Access Programme need to be discussed and endorsed by your Doctor.

  • You must be a resident of Tairawhiti, New Zealand.

    Your doctor must determine that you are unable to afford your prescription without support.

    Your prescribing Doctor is within the region.

  • Medicinal Cannabis products that have been assessed as meeting the Minimum Quality Standard (MQS). This list is constantly updated by the NZ Ministry of Health and can be found here. Medicinal Cannabis Product List. Medicinal Cannabis Product List

  • 30mL of any oil product

    or

    10g of any dried flower product

    per patient per month

  • If you are eligible and there is a space on the programme for you, the cost of the medicine is free and covered by the programme. However you may be required to pay some dispensing fee from the pharmacy or chemist. Each pharmacy is different so check the cost.

I am a Pharmacist

  • CDC coordinates the programme of behalf of Rua Bioscience.

    CDC can be contacted for information on order and delivery of prescriptions.

    Email - rua@cdc.co.nz

  • CDC Pharmaceuticals Ltd

    Email - rua@cdc.co.nz

  • The programme only covers the cost of the medicine. It does not cover doctor fees or the cost of dispensing.

  • 30mL of any oil product per patient per month

    or

    10g of any dried flower product per patient per month

  • If the patient is prescribed more than the amount covered by the progamme, then the additional cost will need to be covered by the patient.

  • Check with the doctor or CDC rua@cdc.co.nz

Compassionate Access Request Form

If you are a registered prescriber in the Te Whatu Ora Tairawhiti District, you can request your patient to go on the list to seek compassionate access.

Eligibility criteria:

  • The patient is a resident of Tairawhiti

  • You are a prescriber in the Te Whatu Ora Tairawhiti District

  • You have concluded that your patient’s condition may benefit from treatment with the medicinal cannabis product.

  • Treatment with the medicinal cannabis product (being an unregistered medicine provided under section 29 of the Medicines Act 1981) is a better clinical option for your patient than a first-line treatment or registered medicine.

  • You have identified that affordability is presenting a significant barrier for your patient to access the medicinal cannabis product.