The biggest problem for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers is that new drugs are not made available in the public health sector and thus patients cannot receive the most advanced treatment available, MS association chairman Savvas Christodoulou said on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion of World Day for MS which is marked on May 31 he said that despite the enormous efforts the association is making, “a number of problems that affect and mitigate patients with multiple sclerosis remain unresolved, with enormous and often tragic consequences for patients’ lives.”
“When a drug exists and can be used to slow the progression of a disease and to provide a better quality of life for the patient, then it is the duty of the state to help,” he stressed, adding that many efforts have been made by the association to resolve this problem without success.
These drugs, if properly positioned, he noted, will not incur costs to the state budget but reduce it.
Regarding the issue of MRI diagnostics, he said this was discussed at a recent meeting with health minister Giorgos Pamboridis and news about the renewal of contracts with private diagnostic centres is expected.
At a meeting in April with labour minister Zeta Emilianidou, several problems faced by patients with MS were discussed and “we were promised that our requests will be studied with the aim of solving them.”
Christodoulou went on to say that the way to deal with the illness is to deal calmly with it, think positively, follow the doctors’ instructions and to continue to live as normally as possible.
“What we usually say to our new members and to all the people who suffer is that they should not be deprived of their lives. It is a fact that limits will be placed on their endurance and life. They may have to diversify their dreams and goals, but they can always continue to work and be active. It just needs certain adjustments.”
For her part, Emilianidou, said the state supports people with multiple sclerosis, their families and organisations which represent them.
She added the ministry is implementing a range of actions and measures with financial contributions, care allowances and special schemes to ensure a decent and independent living and to face the problem of disability. It also implements plans to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities or illnesses and subsidises organisations through various plans to provide many programmes and services.
Needs are many and vary, necessitating a multidisciplinary assessment and personalised intervention, Emilianidou concluded.
It is estimated that over 2,500,000 people worldwide suffer from multiple sclerosis. In Cyprus, around 2,000 people are believed to have the condition.
