On Monday 6 March 2023, a special moment took place in the Dutch healthcare sector. Namely, Véronique Timmerhuis presented the 'Signalement Therapeutische Toepassingen van Psychedelica' to minister Ernst Kuipers of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). The report was commissioned by ZonMw and describes the state of affairs in the field of therapeutic applications of psychedelics (TTP), the possible target groups and proponents and opponents, the knowledge gaps and the opportunities and obstacles in the field of research and implementation.
The reason this publication is so special is that TTP could potentially bring improvements to people with therapy-resistant psychiatric disorders and in (neurological) pain disorders. An estimated 200,000 people in the Netherlands with a psychiatric disorder maintain severe psychological symptoms despite regular treatments offered. Unfortunately, few therapeutic innovations or new drugs have been developed in psychiatry in recent decades that have been able to break this deadlock.
Fortunately, a growing number of studies are showing evidence that TTP, such as ketamine, MDMA and psilocybin, can provide significant improvements for patients with therapy-resistant psychiatric conditions and in (neurological) pain disorders. This offers hope for people who have so far not benefited from regular treatments.
Véronique Timmerhuis looks forward to Minister Kuipers' response and hopes for further cooperation on this issue for the benefit of all concerned. The monitoring report she has written identifies directions for solutions, such as arguing for a national network of university medical centres and mental health institutions to coordinate large-scale research, training, accreditation and quality assurance, and establishing a comprehensive national research and implementation programme.
The presentation of the report took place during a mini-symposium organised by the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). This symposium is an important step in the further development of TTP in the Netherlands and offers hope for people with therapy-resistant psychiatric disorders and in (neurological) pain disorders.
Source : https://www.zonmw.nl/nl/actueel/nieuws/detail/item/minister-kuipers-neemt-signalement-therapeutische-toepassingen-van-psychedelica-in-ontvangst/