Charity call for MS drug to be available on NHS in Scotland
A leading charity is urging the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) and NHS Scotland to follow England’s lead and bring the first ever treatment for early multiple sclerosis north of the Border.
The MS Society Scotland are calling for the drug ocrelizumab, which is the first ever treatment for early primary progressive MS, to be made available on the NHS.
It follows yesterday’ s announcement the drug would be available on the NHS in England, branded a “landmark moment” by the MS Society.
Last September the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence( NICE )– the equivalent of the SM C–initially rejected ocrelizumab as it was considered too expensive for the benefits it can provide. In clinical trials people saw an average drop of 25 per cent in the risk of their disability getting worse.
The treatment could also delay the need for a wheelchair by seven years.
The MS Society launched a campaign calling on NICE, NHS England and the drug manufacturer Roche to find a deal to allow access to the drug on the NHS. The campaign included a 21,000-strong petition and more than 3,000 people raising the issue with their local MP.
Morna Simpkins, director of MS Society Scotland, said: “We hop e that to day’s deci - si onto makeoc re liz um ab available on NHS England for certain people living with primary progressive MS is a sign of things to come in Scotland. We urge the SMC, the manufacturers Roche and NHS Scotland to follow suit in working together to make this treatment available for those who could benefit in the near future. The approval of ocrelizumab in England demonstrates that this treatment can be provided on the NHS in a cost-effective manner and offer a much needed therapy for people living with primary progressive MS.
“More than 11,000 of us in Scotland live with the condition and we will keep pushing for better access to more treatments for all forms of the condition.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said :“The decision as to whether ocrelizumab will be made available on the NHS in Scotland is, of course, taken by the Scottish Medicine Consortium and will be made independently of government and Parliament. However, it is the government’s hope that an application to the SMC by the manufacturer will be made in the near future.”