The Israel Cancer Association warns government ministries: "Do not harm patients"
Following the Ministry of Economy's decision to reopen the investigation into medical cannabis imports, the Israel Cancer Association has requested urgent intervention, demanding a halt to a move that could lead to severe shortages and financial burdens for patients.
The Israel Cancer Association appealed this week to the Minister of Health following the reopening of an investigation by the Ministry of Economy and Industry regarding the import of medical cannabis from Canada, which is causing deep concern among patients and medical professionals.
The move, intended to examine the imposition of a temporary deposit and trade levies, brings uncertainty back to the market and could severely harm the continuity of treatment and the availability of products. This comes after a previous process decided not to impose a levy due to objections from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry of Economy set the end of July 2026 as the deadline for submitting public responses to the investigation. Currently, cancer patients and chronic patients are not entitled to a refund or subsidy for medical cannabis, so any price increase will be borne directly by them. Furthermore, matching a cannabis strain is a lengthy, personal process, and reducing imports could force a transition to alternative products that do not provide an identical medical response.
"Forced replacement of a product tailored to a patient whose condition is stable is not merely a technical action—it could harm the balance achieved and burden patients dealing with a complex illness," the urgent appeal to the government ministries stated.
It was further noted that "it is inappropriate for patients to be required to deal once again with a real fear of price increases or shortages, after the issue has already been examined and decided with decisive weight given to their health."
The urgent appeal to the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Economy, and the Commissioner of Trade Levies demands an immediate halt to the procedure. Patients are calling for a comprehensive medical and economic review in cooperation with the Ministry of Health to ensure the continuity of treatment, prevent price increases, and avoid harming the quality of life of thousands of patients.
