(2) what proportion of patients in the risk sharing scheme for multiple sclerosis patients have been assessed in relation to predicted clinical outcomes; what proportion fell below predicted outcomes; and to what extent drug prices for these patients have been reduced;
(3) what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the risk sharing scheme for multiple sclerosis patients; and if she will make a statement;
(4) how many patients resident in England had been invited to join the Department of Health risk sharing scheme for multiple sclerosis patients by March; and what proportion consented to join.
There have been no significant changes made to the multiple sclerosis risk-sharing scheme itself since its inception in May 2002. There has, however, been a change in the scheme co-ordinator from the Sheffield School of Health and Allied Research to Parexel Ltd.
This is a United Kingdom wide scheme and a cohort of around 5,200 patients is being monitored on a routine basis. Information on the numbers of patients who did not consent to join the scheme is unavailable, but treatment is not dependent on participation in the scheme.
The first analysis of data from the scheme will take place in summer 2007. We have no plans to make a separate assessment of the scheme's effectiveness.