Patient’s £800k NHS drug plea

A DISEASE that causes the body to attack its own stomach cells and affects around 100,000 Scots is not being treated effectively, MSPs have been told.

The Scottish Parliament yesterday noted its concern over the “outdated and ineffective” method of diagnosing and treating pernicious anaemia (PA) and vitamin B12 deficiency.

The public petitions committee heard from PA sufferer Andrea MacArthur, who claimed half of the £800,000 spent by the NHS on the illness goes on the least effective treatment, oral cyanocobalamin tablets.

Public health minister Michael Matheson said the Scottish Government was taking her petition “very seriously”.