Access to treatments in Scotland
In Scotland, there are 12 disease modifying therapies (DMTs) available on the NHS for people with relapsing MS. However, our research shows that in Scotland only 57% of people that are eligible to take a DMT are currently taking one.
Read more about our research into access to treatments.
We've been finding out how people in Scotland with relapsing MS make decisions about whether to take a DMT, and which DMT to take. We published what we found in our report into prescribing practices for DMTs: Right Treatment, Right Time.
This year, the first treatment for people with early primary progressive MS, ocrelizumab, was licensed for use in the UK. It was also licensed for relapsing MS. In July, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) decided that ocrelizumab won’t be available for relapsing MS on the NHS in Scotland. They felt its benefits weren’t worth how much the drug costs. After this decision, the drugs makers decided not to get the green light for it to be used for early primary progressive MS.
We’re working to understand the full reasons for these decisions, and will continue working with the SMC and others to see new submissions in future.
How do MS treatments get approved for the NHS in Scotland? Read our blog for an overview.
Read more about how we're campaigning for access to treatments across the UK