People with the often-debilitating disease multiple sclerosis are being made to wait for a specific treatment prescribed by their doctor because the medication is not currently available, the Times of Malta has learnt.
A 41-year-old woman who has been suffering from multiple scleroses symptoms since she was 15 has tried different types of treatment for the condition.
However, the medication was not effective, and Sandra Apap, diagnosed at 23, was recently advised by her doctor to stop her current treatment. Following a recent MRI, she discovered that her condition was deteriorating fast and she was therefore prescribed Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate).
However, she has been “struggling” since June to be provided with this medication, her last resort.
MS is a chronic, incurable disease that attacks the central nervous system, with symptoms ranging from vision problems to fatigue and immobility. Ms Apap’s condition is worsening; she does not walk unaided. “I was told I will have to wait for months because the medication won’t be available before November.
Since the introduction of this expensive medicine just over a year ago, the number of patients placed on it has exceeded the predicted consumption
“In the meantime I am supposed to sit and wait for my condition to get worse and live from day to day in fear of losing my mobility completely,” she said, adding this was “unjust, unfair and inhumane”.
In 2014, the government included Gilenya (fingolimod) – an expensive pill that replaced injections for some MS sufferers – in its formulary list. A health spokeswoman said two other treatments, Aubagio (teriflunomide) and dimethyl fumarate – the one needed by Ms Apap – were also going to be added.
However, two years on, she and another newspaper reader, Carmel De Gabriele, are waiting for their new treatment.
MS patient Mr De Gabriele was instructed to stop his current treatment, as it was ineffective, and was told to switch to dimethyl fumarate. However, he was informed he had to wait until September, because the medication was controlled by a quota.
A Health Ministry spokeswoman yesterday reiterated that it was the present government that first introduced dimethyl fumarate for MS patients.
“Since the introduction of this expensive medicine just over a year ago, the number of patients placed on it has exceeded the predicted consumption.
“The Health Ministry has therefore given instructions to increase the amounts procured, and the department is currently going through the tendering and negotiation process to procure additional supplies of dimethyl fumarate.”