Province should fund clinical trials of MS surgery

NDP writes health minister urging Tories to follow Saskatchewan’s lead

EDMONTON – The province could help Albertans suffering from multiple sclerosis by funding clinical trials of a low-cost experimental treatment, NDP leader Brian Mason said today.

Mason has written health minister Gene Zwozdesky (letter below) urging him to follow the lead of the federal and Saskatchewan governments, which are supporting clinical trials of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty as a treatment for MS.

“This treatment is intriguing and deserves further research. Funding clinical trials in Alberta may help those who suffer from MS, and will engage the medical community in a more rigorous analysis of the merits of this technique,” Mason said.

Mason acknowledged differing opinions of the procedure in the medical community.

“Because a treatment is novel is not reason enough to ignore its clinical potential,” Mason said. “The medical community can’t know if this procedure has widespread applications for MS patients unless it conducts clinical trials.”

Mason said the province could likely access federal funding for such trials.

Alberta has one of the highest rates of MS in Canada and the world.

July 29, 2010

Honourable Gene Zwozdesky
Minister of Health and Wellness
Room 208, Legislature Building
10800 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6

Dear Minister Zwozdesky:

I urge you to announce the Province of Alberta will fund clinical trials for the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty procedure developed by Dr. Paolo Zamboni, that many believe will make a positive contribution to the treatment of people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Alberta has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, and would show strong leadership by joining the province of Saskatchewan in taking this step. Recent statements of the federal health minister that funding for clinical trials is available through Canadian Institutes of Health Research provides additional support to Alberta moving ahead.

Funding an adequate number of clinical trials would hasten the determination of the value of this procedure, and provide important data for the treatment of MS to those within the medical research community.

Many people with this disease, and their family and friends, want to be able to benefit from procedures that will result in improvements in their wellness. Your announcement that Alberta will move forward with providing funding for clinical trials will be welcome news to all those whose lives are affected today by this illness. 

Sincerely,
Brian Mason, MLA
Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood