Lack of long term insurance marred the multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to have access to some of the advanced disease modifying therapies (DMTs) to control and treat the nerve disorder. There is a major affordability factor creeping in as drugs to treat multiple sclerosis are expensive and leave scores of patients to keep away from treatment, according to a panel of neurologists representing St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences and Vikram Hospital in Karnataka.

MS is an auto-immune disease which mostly strikes youth. Women are twice more likely to fall prey to MS than men. Genetic and environmental factors are thought to contribute to MS, but a specific cause for the disease has not been yet identified nor a permanent cure. DMTs are medicines that can reduce the frequency and severity of MS attacks and in some cases can slow the progression of the disabling condition, stated the neurologists who were deliberating a discussion led by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India.

The average cost of patented MS injections comes to around Rs.40,000 per month. According to estimates, there are between one lakh to two lakh multiple sclerosis patients in India.

The neurologists feel that being well informed about the medicines too is crucial.  This is because, those who had enough information about the newer drugs were at times more likely to be taking the appropriate treatments.

Despite the presence of path breaking therapies available to MS patients who suffer from this debilitating condition, the high cost of drugs prevent them of having relief. Newer therapies can now target every type of MS. For instance, Avonex an interferon beta 1a is an injectable in a prefilled syringe indicated for relapsing, remitting form of MS. Tysabri (Natalizumab) is the second line of treatment for patients who fail on interferons. This year, there was a new device for easier administration of Avonex called the Avonex Pen to help patients be more independent in administering their therapy thus improving their adherence. Moreover, two new oral drugs approved internationally for Multiple Sclerosis treatment are likely to be available in India by 2014. But pricing prevents reprieve, they added.

“Fifteen years ago, multiple sclerosis was not treatable, but today research in drug development has made it possible to manage the disorder by upto 60 per cent. But, the sad part is that out of pocket expenses make it accessible to less than five per cent of the patients. Moreover, insurance companies have been reluctant to cover this lifelong disease under medical coverage,” stated Dr Thomas Mattew, associate professor, Dept of Neurology, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences.

“Access to novel therapies is not uniform because patient from cities were more likely to have access to DMT than those from smaller towns. Massive  awareness about the  new range of treatment options would be a ray of hope for those patients who have been discouraged by the earlier drugs. Therefore, early and affordable access to MS treatment promises an improved quality of life for patients,” stated Dr S Raghavendra, consultant neurologist, Vikram Hospital.