Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the lifetime direct medical costs associated with spina bifida, compared to births without spina bifida.

The Department has not made an assessment of the lifetime direct medical costs associated with spina bifida, compared to births without spina bifida.

We are however aware of research from 2011 in the European Journal of Pediatrics which shows the costs to be significant. A copy is attached and can be found at:

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/51148532_Economic_burden_of_neural_tube_defects_and_impact_of_prevention_with_folic_acid_A_literature_review