We move on to petition PE223, from Mr and Mrs McQuire, which calls on the Scottish Parliament to ensure that multiple sclerosis sufferers in Lothian are not denied the opportunity to be prescribed beta interferon. We agreed on 27 June to await the report from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and to seek information from the Executive on the timetable for publication of the report. We further agreed on 19 September to continue to wait for the NICE report. NICE's final appraisal determination on beta interferon was published on 2 November; I hope that colleagues have had a chance to read the document.That determination was followed by a period of appeal that ended on 14 November. NICE says that final guidance will be issued in late December. Members have received a letter from Mike Hazelwood of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and will be aware that we have a briefing this evening from the Health Technology Board for Scotland, which will make the ultimate decision about the Scottish situation. We could mention at that meeting some of the points that the Multiple Sclerosis Society raised.
Official Report · Committee
Petitions
Multiple Sclerosis (PE223)
Speakers
Choose an MSP to read only their contributions- Margaret Smith LD 2
- Shona Robison SNP 1
- John McAllion Lab 1
The record
4 contributionsSince we discussed the petition previously, there have been new developments. For example, the announcement of beta interferon trials is significant. However, I feel that we are operating almost in parallel universes. I am not quite sure how the appraisal and the forthcoming trials relate to each other. Although it seemed as though the beta interferon trials would supersede the results of the appraisal, the focus now seems to have returned to the appraisal. We need to get in touch with the Scottish Executive urgently for an update on the trials as they relate to Scotland. When Malcolm Chisholm was Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care, he confirmed that the trials would be extended to Scotland; as a result, we need to find out the time scale for introduction of the trials. That impacts on MS sufferers in Lothian, who will, I presume, receive the same access to those trials as everybody else, if the trials are deemed appropriate.
I am not clear about one point. I understand that when NICE issues the final guidance, the HTBS will assess it before making recommendations to the Scottish Executive. That means that we could be well into next year before the position in Scotland becomes clear.
That is quite likely. We should ask the HTBS this evening about the timetable for that decision.Do members agree to accept Shona Robison's suggestion as the way forward and that we continue to note the petition?Members indicated agreement.
In this meeting
Everything on 28 Nov 2001 →- Scottish Parliament Health and Community Care Committee Wednesday 28 November 2001 (Morning) Committee business · 2
- Items in Private Procedure · 1
- Subordinate Legislation (Debates) Subordinate legislation · 1
- Subordinate Legislation Subordinate legislation · 4
- Subordinate Legislation Subordinate legislation · 1
- Petitions Petitions · 1
- Petitions Petitions · 1
- Petitions Petitions · 1
- Petitions Petitions · 1
- Petitions Petitions · 5
- Petitions Petitions · 38
- Petitions Petitions · 3
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- Petitions Petitions · 4
- Petitions Petitions · 6
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