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07/02/2006
MS waiting lists to be eliminated by 2008
Health Minister Shaun Woodward has today announced that waiting lists for drugs to treat Multiple Sclerosis will be eliminated by March 2008.
Mr Woodward also revealed that an additional £2 million would be allocated over the next two years to enable over 160 people who are currently waiting for these drugs, to start their treatment.
This extra money will also ensure that patients who are eligible for treatment will not be faced with lengthy waiting lists.
Speaking at the MS Society headquarters in Belfast, the Health Minister said: “I have been concerned by the numbers of patients waiting to commence treatment with disease modifying therapies. I know the anxiety and frustration which people with MS face when told they might have to wait for a drug, which has the potential to bring them great benefit.
“Today, I am able to announce an investment of £2 million specifically for disease modifying therapies and the infrastructure to deliver these over the next two years. With these new resources, I intend to eliminate the waiting list for disease modifying therapies by March 2008.”
The Minister continued by saying that he remains committed to improving access to all specialist drugs that offer the potential for significant improvement in patient care.
In November last year, he announced that the cancer drug Herceptin should be made available to women with early stage breast cancer where this is clinically appropriate, and today added that within the next two weeks, he hoped to be announcing a substantial additional investment in other specialist drugs.
(EF/SP)
Mr Woodward also revealed that an additional £2 million would be allocated over the next two years to enable over 160 people who are currently waiting for these drugs, to start their treatment.
This extra money will also ensure that patients who are eligible for treatment will not be faced with lengthy waiting lists.
Speaking at the MS Society headquarters in Belfast, the Health Minister said: “I have been concerned by the numbers of patients waiting to commence treatment with disease modifying therapies. I know the anxiety and frustration which people with MS face when told they might have to wait for a drug, which has the potential to bring them great benefit.
“Today, I am able to announce an investment of £2 million specifically for disease modifying therapies and the infrastructure to deliver these over the next two years. With these new resources, I intend to eliminate the waiting list for disease modifying therapies by March 2008.”
The Minister continued by saying that he remains committed to improving access to all specialist drugs that offer the potential for significant improvement in patient care.
In November last year, he announced that the cancer drug Herceptin should be made available to women with early stage breast cancer where this is clinically appropriate, and today added that within the next two weeks, he hoped to be announcing a substantial additional investment in other specialist drugs.
(EF/SP)
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