No funding for muscle-wasting disease drug

Medication's cost and efficacy questioned

Island health chiefs have confirmed they will not fund a drug which treats a muscle-wasting disease.

Kate Beecroft MHK has raised the case of a seven year old Manx boy who suffers Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, whose condition could be improved by the medication. 

The South Douglas member asked minister Howard Quayle to think again about funding Translarna - approved by NICE in the UK. 

However Mr Quayle told Tynwald the drug will not be routinely funded locally, as its effectiveness is not yet proven.

He also said the cost, estimated between £200,000 and £250,000 per year, cannot be justified.

Mr Quayle said he was following the advice of medics in an 'emotive issue'.