Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There is not an elected Member of this House or the other one who does not know someone who suffers from MS. We are all aware of the degrees, some mild and some far more advanced. Sativex is licensed for use throughout the UK but it is not reimbursed by the NHS. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended that health care practitioners should not offer Sativex to treat spasticity in people with MS because it is not a cost-effective treatment. I very much take on board the Deputy's point about other treatments we have approved that cost multiples of what we are talking about here. The Deputy and I know that in the first instance, one's instinct is always to try to help people who find themselves in difficulty but on the other hand, we must always ensure that we are getting value for money in respect of the taxpayer. This is not to take from our empathy or sympathy for people who find themselves in this position. We must take the advice of those who are charged with looking at the complexities of issues, whether in terms of treatment or economics, and take that advice when it is offered.

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