INTRODUCTION TO PRESCRIBING MEDICAL CANNABIS

Eqalis Pharmaceuticals is a RNZCGP Endorsed Provider of continuing education.

RNZCGP CPD Endorsed Provider

CURRENT ONLINE COURSE

Introduction to Prescribing Medical Cannabis
For New Zealand GPs, Specialists and Nurse Practitioners

100% online modular based course

Study anytime, anywhere – monthly enrolments

CME points allocated on successful completion of the course

Cost: $35 for the course
The “Introduction to Prescribing Medical Cannabis” activity has been endorsed by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and has been approved for up to 6 CME credits for the General Practice Educational Programme (GPEP) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) purposes.

Future courses will focus on specific disease conditions and appropriate medical cannabis therapy options. These courses will be co-produced and presented by disease specialists.

Learning Activities & Assessment

In each module, there are opportunities to reflect on your learning and how you would apply it to your practice. There are also interactive learning activities to consolidate your knowledge and prepare you for the final 30 question assessment.

Course Overview

This course will develop General Practitioners’ clinical expertise by providing relevant information that will enable them to competently prescribe medical cannabis when appropriate. This will involve understanding the complexity of the cannabis plant, therapeutic components, and how this relates to the endocannabinoid system. This knowledge will inform prescribing formulas and dosing considerations.

It is divided into four modules with associated learning outcomes:

The Endocannabinoid System

Understand the Endocannabinoid System and the natural endocannabinoids
Understand the CB1 & CB2 receptors

Components of Cannabis

Understand the different types of Cannabinoids and how they affect the body

Prescribing Considerations

Understand the patient considerations required prior to deciding on a medical cannabis prescription

Dosing Considerations

Able to apply an appropriate prescribing regimen for medical cannabis

Relevance to General Practice

There is a clear need for reliable and relevant medical cannabis information for New Zealand practitioners on when and how to prescribe cannabis and what patient specific considerations need to be addressed. A 2019 survey by Horizon research, published in the July issue of New Zealand Doctor found that only 24% of New Zealand medical practitioners felt well informed about medical cannabis.

Course Presenter

Elizabeth Plant is Chief Medical Officer of Eqalis Pharmaceutical Ltd. Prior to this she has held a number of senior pharmacy roles including independent consulting and Chief Pharmacist of Taranaki DHB for nearly 20 years. She was the President of the NZ Pharmaceutical Society for 5 years (2008-2013) and a ministerial appointment to the NHITB (National Health IT Board) for 8 years (2008-2016). She was a founding and active member of all the New Zealand medication safety committees over the past 20 years and a member of the original PHARMAC Hospital Procurement Advisory Committee (HPAC) serving for 3 years.

She is a registered pharmacist with fellowships awarded from the Pharmaceutical Society and College of Pharmacists. She has an Advanced Clinical Pharmacy Post Graduate Diploma and a Masters in Health Sciences, both with distinction. She is a trained Quality Health Auditor and very experienced in implementing electronic medication systems with the associated clinical change management.