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The Risk-sharing Scheme, the mechanism that makes disease modifying drugs for MS available on the NHS, was debated in Parliament on 2 February.

James Gray MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on MS, was very critical of the scheme and of the methodology and conclusions of the recently published two year analysis of the Scheme so far. In the light of the development of oral drugs for MS, he concluded by calling for the abolition of the Scheme.

In reply, Health Minister Mike O'Brien drew attention to the reasons for setting up the Scheme and how it makes the disease modifying drugs available on the NHS. When asked about the new, oral drugs for MS, the minister reminded Mr Gray that these have yet to receive a licence and be assessed by NICE. But if they are recommended by NICE, the MS risk-sharing scheme will not detract from their appropriate use.

Pam Macfarlane, Chief Executive of the MS Trust, said "This statement by Mr Gray must be very disappointing for the dedicated clinicians and the 4,900 people with MS who are currently being monitored and it must also be worrying for approximately 14,000 people currently receiving disease modifying drugs under the Scheme.

"Until the oral drugs are licensed and widely adopted, we must ensure that people with MS can continue to have access to the therapies they need and do not end up re-living the problems of the 1990s with postcode prescribing and a lack of MS specialists and clinics."

Source: MS Trust (09/02/10)

Further Information

Disease Modifying Drugs Risk Sharing Scheme