Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Alex Fergusson has backed a petition by pupils at Stranraer Academy which seeks to ensure that the medicine Vimizin becomes available on the NHS. After meeting the pupils in Stranraer last Friday (22nd May) Mr Fergusson said:-
“This petition was brought to my attention by Kyle Pirrie, a pupil at Stranraer Academy, whose friend and fellow student Katie has Morquio A syndrome – a condition for which there is no known cure, but which can be alleviated with a medicine called Vimizin. This medicine has been available free of charge for five or six years thanks to its manufacturer, but a decision is to be taken next month as to whether or not it will be freely available through the NHS.
“This is not a cheap medication but, as Katie herself asked me, how do you put a value on a human life?. There are only just over a hundred sufferers throughout the UK, with just five in Scotland, and those who have had treatment with Vimizin report a massive reduction in pain and the other symptoms of this syndrome. Life expectancy, which rarely exceeds the mid 20’s without treatment, can be considerably extended with this treatment, and it is enormously to the credit of Katie and her friends that they have raised this petition to try to ensure that the treatment is available to all. I am proud to support their campaign, and wish them every success in what they seek to achieve.”
