HC Deb 24 October 2000 vol 355 cc116-8
7. Mrs. Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest)

How many patients are currently receiving beta interferon on the NHS. [131854]

13. Mr. John Healey (Wentworth)

What recent representations he has received on the provision of beta interferon on the NHS for certain multiple sclerosis sufferers. [131862]

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. John Denham)

We estimate that between 1,700 and 1,800 people in England are currently receiving beta interferon on the national health service.

Over the past six months, my Department's records indicate receipt of approximately 2,000 written representations and four petitions from Members, patient groups and the public expressing concern about arrangements for prescribing and funding of beta interferon.

Mrs. Laing

I thank the Minister for that answer. He is fond of statistics, but that does no good for the many people in my constituency who plead with me to help them get beta interferon, which they need to try to alleviate their suffering. The Minister has not told the House that the NHS is prescribing beta interferon to less than 3 per cent. of multiple sclerosis sufferers. That is the lowest percentage prescribed by any European Union country. What recommendation has the Minister given to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to ensure that MS sufferers are not deprived of drugs that their counterparts in the EU are receiving?

Mr. Denham

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Before I call the Minister, I appeal to hon. Members to be brief. We shall get through more questions if the questions—and possibly the answers—are more crisp.

Mr. Denham

I apologise for citing statistics, Mr. Speaker, but I was asked how many patients were receiving the drug and that seemed the best way of answering the question.

The question is a serious one. The answer is that we established the National Institute for Clinical Excellence because, with a number of drugs and procedures, there were problems of postcode prescribing and different patterns of treatment, which, in the case of beta interferon, directly reflected the policy, still in place, established by the previous Government. NICE is considering beta interferon. It has not yet produced its advice. The matter is, I believe, at the appeal stage within NICE. As I and other Ministers have said throughout the procedure, we will not comment publicly on NICE's deliberations until it has completed them.

Mr. Speaker

I call Mr. Healey.

Mr. Healey

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and congratulations.

Is my hon. Friend aware that seven organisations, including the MS Society, the Association of British Neurologists and the Royal College of Nursing have appealed against NICE's assessment of beta interferon? Is he aware that no Member on either side of the House who has seen the benefits that that drug can bring to some of our constituents with MS has any doubt about its cost-effectiveness? Therefore, I urge him to consider carefully the decision that he and the Secretary of State must take on the final recommendations that NICE will publish shortly.

Mr. Denham

I acknowledge the considerable efforts that my hon. Friend has made on this topic. I know that he has close links with the MS Society and others. Of course we will consider properly and carefully the recommendations from NICE when we receive them, but, as my hon. Friend pointed out, an appeals procedure is under way. Many organisations will have contributed to that appeals process. It is essential for the integrity of NICE that that is allowed to take its course without Ministers' commenting or speculating on what the final outcome might be.

Mr. Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge)

I know that the Minister is aware of the concern on both sides of the House about the beta interferon issue, but does he agree that any decision by NICE to deny beta interferon to patients for whom it is demonstrably clinically effective would bluntly undermine the guarantee that was given by the Secretary of State, who said: no one will be denied the drugs that they need.—[Official Report, 30 June 1998; Vol. 315, c. 143.]? Will the Minister give an undertaking to place in the Library after the NICE decision is announced the submission that was made to the NICE appraisal by the Department of Health, so that hon. Members can see what the Department was really recommending to NICE?

Mr. Denham

On that point—it is important—I have always worked on the assumption that such submissions would be placed in the public domain, so I am happy to give a positive response. For reassurance, however, may I say that such responses as have been made to provisional determinations have invariably been of a technical nature, or have suggested that the wording may need to be clarified in the interests of wider understanding. However, the hon. Gentleman has made a fair point and I will respond positively to it in that way.

Mr. Speaker

I call Miss Anne Begg.

Miss Anne Begg (Aberdeen, South)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I add my congratulations.

Although I, too, hope that NICE will soon report on beta interferon, and that anyone with MS who beta interferon will help will get the drug on the national health service, I believe that beta interferon is not necessarily suitable for all MS sufferers. I wonder whether the Minister shares my concern that a number of MS sufferers are pinning their hopes on getting beta interferon when in their case it may not be the most suitable drug. I am wondering what the Government are doing to ensure that there is an educative process to inform MS sufferers that other regimes may be more suitable, so that they are not always waiting around for a wonder drug which, for them, may not be a wonder drug.

Mr. Denham

My hon. Friend makes an important point. Even the most enthusiastic proponents of beta interferon have not suggested that it works in all cases and circumstances. Beta interferon has never been suggested as a cure for that very distressing condition, so there is a wider set of issues surrounding the appropriate care and support for MS sufferers. Discussions have been taking place between the Department, the MS Society and NICE on the possible preparation of clinical guidelines on wider MS treatment and support.