From now on, a certain group of MS patients can be reimbursed for a stem cell transplant from the basic package, the National Health Care Institute reports. These are patients with the variant RRMS for whom medication does not help. “For these patients, stem cell transplantation is sufficiently proven to be effective care,” the Zorginstituut concludes. The decision affects ten to twenty patients per year and is effective immediately.
Patients have fewer attacks of the disease after stem cell transplantation. Fewer people are also deteriorating in functioning. “Patients report experiencing a better quality of life,” the institute said about the influence of the therapy.
Central Committee
Although stem cell transplantation can cause serious side effects, including high fever and infections, the Zorginstituut concludes that the beneficial effects of stem cell transplantation for the specific group of patients mentioned sufficiently outweigh the risks. The transplant to be reimbursed is performed in two hospitals, in the Amsterdam UMC and in the St. Antonius Hospital in Nieuwegein. There will be one central committee that will determine whether a patient is eligible. (AP)