Patients with multiple sclerosis who were set to switch to a new, costly drug after the government added it to its formulary list last week are being denied it without further explanation, Times of Malta has learnt.

The government had ann­ounced that people with MS would be receiving the pill-based medicine, which was promised in the last Budget, by April.

The first dose of Gilenya (fingolimod) must be administered in a hospital setting where the patient’s heart rhythm is monitored for at least six hours. After being given the green light, the patient can continue taking the pill daily from home.

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