§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if the health service across England will be ready to implement the prescription-plus-monitoring scheme for beta interferons from its start date of 6 May; [55317]
(2) how many people he estimates will receive beta interferon under the prescription-plus monitoring scheme; [55307]
(3) what progress has been made on the prescription-plus monitoring scheme for disease-modifying drugs for MS; [55308]
(4) how long he estimates it will take for all people who may benefit from beta interferons to have been assessed by a neurologist for the prescription-plus monitoring scheme; [55309]
(5) when he estimates that all people who may benefit from beta interferons will be in receipt of them; [55310]
142W(6) if he will list the centres that will be authorised to prescribe beta interferons through his Department's prescription-plus-monitoring scheme; [55311]
(7) what predictions each centre authorised to prescribe disease-modifying drugs for MS has made on how long it will be before all people who may benefit from beta interferons and glatirimer acetate have been assessed by a neurologist for the prescription-plus-monitoring scheme; [55313]
(8) which authorised centres have begun prescribing beta interferon and glatirimer acetate under the prescription-plus-monitoring scheme for disease-modifying drugs for MS. [55314]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 10 May 2002]: It has been estimated that up to 9,000 multiple sclerosis patients in England and Wales may be eligible to receive treatment under the risk-sharing scheme, which started on 6 May 2002. Some centres have now started prescribing under the scheme, though the guidance in HSC 2002/004 recognises that appropriate NHS infrastructure may not yet be in place in some localities. It may take 18 months or longer before all potentially eligible patients are assessed under the scheme. The list of locally agreed prescribing centres is not yet finalised. The scheme co-ordinator, whose appointment will shortly be announced, will collect information on progress and activity under the scheme.