‘We want justice for sufferers across Britain’
THE woman who led Scotland’s successful CF drug crusade last night told the Daily Express: “Now we want justice for the rest of the UK!”
Maggie Gallacher, 52, has spent years fighting for her seriously-ill child to have access to Orkambi or Symkevi.
Last year, her daughter Kelli, 25, wrote to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and begged: “Please don’t let me die.”
After she was hospitalised over Christmas, Kelli’s health authority paid for her to have access to Symkevi through a Scottish-only health application called PACS Tier Two.
Since she started taking it in April, Kelli – who was diagnosed with CF as a baby – has put on weight, increased her lung function and even been able to indulge her love of dancing again.
She said: “I am so happy everyone is getting the same chance as me for a better and healthier future.”
Last night, her mum Maggie said: “It has been a long, hard fight but we are so delighted.We are also so aware of the injustice in the rest of the UK and will now do what we can to help them.
“It is so important health officials in England, Wales and Northern Ireland see what our officials did in their negotiations and try to follow suit.
“Everyone who needs these drugs should have access to them.” Last month, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) recommended the government did not fund the drugs but Holyrood overruled the decision.
Maggie said: “These drugs are life-changing. Thanks go to the Scottish government and Vertex for putting politics aside to help those affected.
“I hope the rest of the UK will follow Scotland’s lead and everyone will soon be able to benefit.”