§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people with MS likely to present themselves for assessment by a neurologist with a view to getting a disease-modifying drug on the NHS; and when they will have been assessed. [34116]
§ Ms BlearsAll patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), and those with secondary progressive MS in which relapses are the dominant feature, are eligible under the scheme for treatment on the national health service if they meet criteria developed by the Association of British Neurologists (ABN).
It has been estimated that the total number of patients of England and Wales who fall within the ABN criteria might range between 7,500 and 9,000. The scheme starts to operate on 6 May 2002. It is anticipated that it might take 18 months to initiate all eligible patients on the scheme.