MS Trust Disappointed at NICE Appeal Outcome but Hopeful that the Department of Health Initiative will come to Fruition

http://www.mstrust.org.uk/press/

25 January 2002

The MS Trust is disappointed but not surprised that the NICE Appeal panel has dismissed the appeal made by the MS Trust, MS Society, Royal College of Nursing and the pharmaceutical companies. However, the MS Trust is encouraged that the Department of Health (DoH) has now stepped in to discuss alternative means of ensuring that all eligible patients can receive these drugs.

Christine Jones, Chief Executive of the MS Trust said: "This is the end of a long drawn-out and totally unsatisfactory saga which has seen people with MS treated as second-class citizens. Throughout the last 28 months NICE has persisted in ignoring the evidence and advice from the many interested parties and experts in MS who have submitted data. In addition NICE has failed to recognise the difficulties of assessing the cost effectiveness of drugs for a long- term chronic condition such as MS.

"However, we are encouraged that the Department of Health has now intervened and is taking positive steps to find a solution. The ‘risk-sharing’ initiative is beginning to take shape and we are hopeful that by the time the NICE guidance is announced on February 4th the DOH will be in a position to announce its proposals. Certainly we are working to support the DOH in their efforts to ensure that people with MS in the UK will at long last have access to the disease modifying therapies."
 

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