MCNEIL TO DEXTER: SHOW LEADERSHIP FOR NOVA SCOTIA MS PATIENTS
Date: Wednesday September 1, 2010

(Halifax, NS) Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says the Dexter government needs to show leadership and invest money in a clinical trial in Nova Scotia to test the safety and effectiveness of the MS Liberation treatment.

“So far, dozens of Nova Scotians with MS have travelled outside of Canada to have this procedure done,” said McNeil. “The premier was willing to fund a pan-Canadian national trial last week, so it’s not a far stretch for him to use these resources and call for proposals for a clinical trial here.”

Today, the Federal Minister of Health said she would follow the recommendation of the Canadian Institute for Health Research and not support a clinical trial that would test the safety and effectiveness of the treatment in Canada. Saskatchewan has indicated it will move ahead with a trial, but it is not open to patients from Nova Scotia.

“In our caucus, most of us know someone from Nova Scotia who has travelled outside this country to get treatment. We have listened to the anecdotal cases of improvement by patients. We are encouraged and moved by these stories,” said McNeil. “Our citizens with MS need to know that their government is prepared to find out if this treatment has merit.”

The Liberal caucus is not asking that tax dollars be spent on an “unproven” treatment. Rather, we are asking that some health care dollars be spent on research in this province to study whether this procedure is safe and provides value for MS patients.

“As the province with the highest per capita rate of MS patients, we need to provide leadership on this issue. It’s just the right thing to do.”

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