Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Health the drugs deemed to be most effective in the treatment of MS; if all such drugs are covered by the general medical service; if it is intended to include the drug Tysabri in the GMS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24801/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The effectiveness of medicines for the treatment of any illnesses including Multiple Sclerosis are assessed on a case by case basis and in regard to the benefits for each patient. In relation to the specific example of Tysabri, the Summary of Product Characteristics for this product notes that treatment with Tysabri should be started and continuously supervised by a doctor who is experienced in treating diseases of the nervous system and has access to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. This machine enables the doctor to see inside the body to check for changes in the brain linked to MS or the rare brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Tysabri is given as a one-hour infusion every four weeks. Because the infusion can trigger an allergic reaction, the patient must be monitored during the infusion and for one hour afterwards.

Due to the nature of the treatment, it is necessary for the patient to be treated in a hospital setting. This precludes the drug from being included within the GMS and community drugs schemes which provide for the reimbursement of medicines dispensed by community pharmacists.