Neurologists in Malaysia report significant barriers in prescribing advanced therapies for Multiple Sclerosis and related disorders, highlighting a gap between treatment capabilities and patient access. A recent survey reveals that financial constraints and limited medication availability are major impediments, despite the presence of high-efficacy options.
Prescribing Patterns and Preferences
Neurologists predominantly rely on interferon beta-1a for MS treatment and azathioprine for NMOSD and MOGAD, reflecting established practices. The use of B-cell depleting agents is present but constrained by high costs and accessibility issues, limiting their widespread adoption.
Barriers to High-Efficacy Therapies
Financial constraints top the list of challenges, with 96.3% of neurologists citing affordability as a key factor. Additionally, concerns over medication side effects and lack of specialist training further restrict optimal treatment selection in clinical settings.
Key insights include:
– Affordability drives nearly all treatment decisions.
– A majority of neurologists lack specialized training in neuroimmunology.
– High-cost B-cell depleting agents remain underutilized despite their efficacy.
Addressing financial and systemic barriers is crucial to enhance the management of central nervous system demyelinating diseases in Malaysia. Policy interventions aimed at reducing medication costs, expanding access to high-efficacy therapies, and providing targeted training for neurologists could bridge the current gaps. By overcoming these challenges, healthcare providers can ensure more effective and equitable care for patients battling MS and related disorders.
This article has been prepared with the assistance of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more details, please refer to our Terms and Conditions. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author.
