This Wednesday (25), Cannect launches the first national online pharmacy with Cannabis-based products. The company intends to distribute throughout the country from a dispensary, located in Maringá, Paraná. “This will facilitate the patient’s access to the drug”, says Allan Paiotti, CEO of Cannect and former director of Hospital Oswaldo Cruz.
All medicines marketed have the temporary authorization of Anvisa (Health Surveillance Agency), as determined by RDC (Collegiate Board Resolution) 327, published by the body in 2019. And, following the rules, for the purchase of products it will be necessary to present the special prescription for controlled drugs – blue for CBD (Cannabidiol, non-psychoactive substance derived from Cannabis) with less than 0.2% THC (psychoactive substance) and yellow, when it is above that concentration. The company promises delivery 48 hours after the prescription is collected at the patient’s home.
Today, there are about 14 products already approved by the health agency to be sold in national pharmacies. But not all manufacturers have already managed to produce and make these drugs available to the drugstore in general.
Nunature and Prati Donaduzzi have already advanced in the process. To get an idea of the price, CBD with 17.18 mg/ml in a 30 ml glass from Nunature costs R$ 428 at Droga Raia, while the 30 ml glass of CBD with a concentration of 50 mg/ml from Prati Donaduzzi costs R$ 671.93 at Drogaria SP.
The Connect dispensary starts with Nunature products only. “In June, others arrive from Belcher and Zion”, says Alan Paiotti. During the year, other brands approved by Anvisa should arrive in 2021. “They are in the process of manufacturing and importing. I believe that in three months we will have more goods.”
At first, the Cannect pharmacy has no price advantage for the consumer. “It is the manufacturer that sets the price”, recalls Paiotti. However, when the other brands arrive, the consumer will be much easier to buy, as they will be able to compare price and brands in one place. To attract customers, the company says that whoever buys at the online pharmacy, you will be accompanied free of charge by ConnectCuida, the company’s healthcare team, during the treatment.
Today, most patients with resources to purchase medicines turn to CBD (Cannabidiol, non-psychoactive substance derived from Cannabis) import websites, because they have a much greater diversity of products. The inconvenience of importation, however, is the time for Anvisa to approve the importation and delivery of the drug – which can take from 15 to 30 days, if there are no problems at customs –, in addition to the variation in the dollar exchange rate.
Patients who do not have financial resources turn to patient associations or take the matter to court – either to get the State to pay for the treatment or to authorize the cultivation and artisanal production of oil in the patient’s home. A long fight in the courts that can drag on for years, time patients don’t have to wait to take care of their health.
Who is Cannect
It is a new company in healthtec, founded in 2021, which arrived willing to offer health services, through technological tools. Among the company’s partners, Paiotti, who was invited to work at Hospital Oswaldo Cruz to bring more technology to the institution.
Fusion with Dr Cannabis
Earlier this month, the company announced a merger with Dr Cannabis, a pioneer in the dissemination of cannabis information applied to Health. Founded in 2018, it later expanded services, offering access to physicians with expertise in the subject. Today it has a network of 4,000 specialized professionals and a product marketplace. Behind Dr Cannabis is the founder Viviane Sedola, a founder trained in marketing, who has become a market reference over the years in the country. “This merger allows Dr Cannabis to offer its thousands of patients and physicians Cannect’s structure, experience and healthcare solutions.”
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