§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) with reference to the announcement by his Department on 4 February, regarding the assessment of multiple sclerosis patients, who will be responsible for arranging the tests; [54025]
(2) when the payment by results agreement on drugs for treating multiple sclerosis will come into effect. [54024]
§ Ms BlearsThe UK health departments have reached agreement with manufacturers on a risk-sharing scheme for the supply of disease modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis on the national health service to patients who meet criteria set by the Association of British Neurologists (ABN). Full details of the scheme were issued in Health Service Circular (HSC) 2002/004 on 4 February 2002. The scheme started on 6 May 2002 for those centres with the appropriate infrastructure in place. Some centres will start later depending on the work that has to be undertaken to set up specialist clinics.
The scheme involves groups of patients being specifically monitored over the lifetime of the scheme to confirm the cost-effectiveness of these treatments. Monitoring of patients and potential price adjustments under the scheme are expected to continue over 10 years.
The ABN recommends that initial assessments be undertaken by designated consultants to whom patients should be referred by other neurologists, not directly by general practitioners. The precise service arrangements and referral protocols will be for local agreement taking into account the current spread of specialist services.