AS readers may have heard, NICE, the government advisory body on health treatment, is proposing to withdraw funds for the only prescribed drug available to help multiple sclerosis sufferers -- Beta interferon.
NICE knows that this drug has been scientifically proven to reduce relapses in MS but says its cost outweighs the evidence.
We know this drug is expensive, but so are Viagra, etc.
And now the Government is planning to fund the new drug for helping people stop smoking -- £15 million, to be precise.
Where is the sense in this? These people have the choice to smoke, we do not have the choice whether or not we have MS.
If someone gave me money to buy MS treatment or a non-smoking pill, I know which one I would choose.
All the years of testing this drug and now they are pulling out, leaving us to suffer without hope. Where is the justice in this?
If any of your readers feel strongly about this please could they write to Alan Milburn, the Secretary of State for Health, at Richmond House, Whitehall, London SW1A.
L KINGHAM (Mrs), Belgrave Square, Darwen.
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