Research yes, still no right to treatment

CCSVI Coalition applauds announcement of clinical trials

TORONTO, June 29, 2011 /CNW/ - Today the Government of Canada on the unanimous advice of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) approved funding for clinical trials of CCSVI related to Multiple Sclerosis.  This is a reversal of the negative position taken last fall by CIHR and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.  Today's statement made no mention of participation by the MS Society in this positive decision and there is no indication that the MS Society has changed its negative view of CCSVI.

Today's announcement marks the first time that the Government of Canada has acknowledged the relationship of CCSVI to MS.

People familiar with this issue are encouraged to contact the Minster of Health, congratulate her on this decision and urge her to make a priority of having treatment for CCSVI available in Canada immediately.  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/contact/ahc-asc/minist-eng.php  As well as long-term research, treatment is what Canadians with MS, their families and friends have been asking for the right to receive treatment in their own country for a disease that slowly and unrelentingly destroys health of its victims.

The CCSVI Coalition (www.ccsvicoalition.org) will continue to fund CCSVI research in Canada and to advocate for immediate access to treatment of CCSVI.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2011/29/c2457.html