I WAS interested to read about prescription of beta interferon to multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers in last week's BFP.

I have suffered quite severely from MS since1988 but I am very fortunate in that my condition has not deteriorated and I remain convinced that I have the wrong 'type' of the disease for beta interferon to be of any use. However, I am very dismayed at the performance of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) an unfortunate and inappropriate acronym in assessing the drug for prescription to sufferers.

I have written many times to various bodies and publications but NICE still maintain that the drug should not be available on prescription because they doubt its 'cost effectiveness', whatever that might mean. They are obviously not convinced by their own findings because even after years of dithering they still have not closed the door and suggest some sort of drug trial sponsored by manufacturers.

However, it annoys me that beta interferon is known to be beneficial to sufferers if administered early enough. It follows therefore that in the years that NICE have dithered, many who might have benefited from the drug will have passed the point at which it might help them.

I wonder how much NICE's deliberations cost and how this compares with the cost of prescribing beta interferon to MS sufferers.

I note the incredible difference in price (from £3,000 per annum in Australia to £12,000 in UK) and cannot understand why.

It is astounding that inteferons were discovered in 1957.

Why, 45 years later, is the prescription of it to a group known to benefit from the drug still being discussed?

Spencer Arnott

Beech Tree Road

Holmer Green

February 14, 2002 13:38