§ Clive EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the annual cost of prescribing beta interferon to all patients who need it under the pilot scheme. [13267]
§ Ms BlearsWe are currently holding discussions with the manufacturers to consider a range of options under which drugs for multiple sclerosis might be made available under the national health service. One option is a "risk sharing" scheme which will evaluate their clinical and cost-effectiveness, and until these discussions are concluded we cannot provide detailed information on potential numbers of patients and likely costs.