Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve NHS patient access to the latest innovative cost-effective medicines for multiple sclerosis.

Through its technology appraisal programme, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes authoritative, evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on the clinical and cost effective use of drugs and other treatments. Wherever possible, NICE aims to publish draft guidance on significant new drugs as soon as possible after licensing. NICE has recommended a number of drugs as treatments for multiple sclerosis.

Commissioners are legally required to fund drugs and treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisal guidance within three months of its final guidance being issued. This is reflected in the NHS Constitution as a right to NICE approved drugs.