Magistral preparation (Magistralrezeptur)

A magistral preparation (Formula magistralis) is a medicine that a public or hospital pharmacy prepares on a medical prescription for a specific person or a specific group of persons. It needs no marketing authorisation from Swissmedic, may be prepared ad hoc or in small batches, and may be dispensed only on a medical prescription (Art. 9 para. 2 let. a HMG). It must still meet quality requirements such as good manufacturing practice and the pharmacopoeia (Art. 8 HMG; BAG FAQ on cannabis medicines).

Magistral preparations and medical cannabis

According to the BAG, besides the one medicine authorised by Swissmedic, magistral preparations made by pharmacies are used in Switzerland (BAG FAQ on cannabis medicines). For magistral cannabis preparations, Swissmedic describes its enforcement practice in a factsheet addressed to the authorities (version 2.0, valid from 1 June 2026, sections 4.3.1 and 5 and Appendix 3):

• The manufacturing chain must include a company holding a Swissmedic manufacturing licence for active substances that performs the technical release.
• A pharmacy may not take cannabis directly from the grower and make preparations from it.
• Trade in magistral preparations, and their import or export, are not allowed.

Where patients meet it

For patients, this means that a magistral preparation is made on a medical prescription and dispensed only on that basis (Art. 9 para. 2 let. a HMG). There is no entitlement to a prescription; the physician decides on the basis of the medical assessment. According to the BAG, the cantonal pharmacists are responsible for determining whether specific preparations can be prescribed (BAG FAQ on cannabis medicines). Patients choose the pharmacy freely (Art. 26 para. 2bis let. b HMG): see choosing a pharmacy.