The National Health Care Institute has advised the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to reimburse methylprednisolone (Methylprednisolon ACE®) from the basic healthcare package. This medicine can be used for certain patients with symptomatic attacks in multiple sclerosis (MS). If the Minister adopts our advice, zilucoplan will be included in the Medicine Reimbursement System (GVS). Only then will this medicinal product be reimbursed from the health care insurer’s basic health care package.
Methylprednisolone is intended for people with symptomatic attacks in multiple sclerosis (MS)
Methylprednisolone is the active substance. The brand name is Methylprednisolon ACE®. The medicine is a 100 mg tablet to be taken orally. For the treatment of a symptomatic attack in multiple sclerosis, a dose of 1000 mg per day should be taken for 3 days. This means 10 tablets a day.
The medicine can be used in people with a symptomatic attack in multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system increasingly damages the isolating coating of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Due to this damage, the nervous system is increasingly less able to transmit signals, causing physical and mental problems. For instance:
- pain and tingling in extremities
- muscle weakness
- difficulty moving
- loss of vision and balance
- difficulty speaking and swallowing, and incontinence.
During such a symptomatic attack, the symptoms worsen. An attack is called exacerbation or relapse.
Advice from the National Health Care Institute on the reimbursement of methylprednisolone
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister of VWS to reimburse methylprednisolone (Methylprednisolon ACE®) from the basic healthcare package. The advice is to include the medicinal product in List 1B of the GVS.
For more information on the GVS and the Lists 1A, 1B and 2, see page ‘Reimbursement of extramural drugs (GVS)’.
More information or questions?
If you have any questions about this advice, please send your question to the National Health Care Institute via warcg@zinl.nl. If you have questions about the reimbursement of a medicinal product, the personal expenses or whether you should pay a contribution, please ask your health insurance provider.
How did the advice come about?
The Minister of VWS asks the National Health Care Institute to make an assessment. The Minister makes the final decision whether or not to reimburse the medicinal product from the basic healthcare package.
Explanation about the reimbursement of medicinal products
Methylprednisolone is an extramural medicinal product. Extramural means: medicines for home use that can be obtained at the pharmacy with a prescription from a physician. They are only reimbursed from the basic health care package if they are listed in the GVS.