Multiple sclerosis sufferers in parts of Scotland could miss out on vital medication because of long waiting times, according to campaigners.

The MS Society Scotland said there was huge regional disparity in access to beta interferon.

The society claimed that some patients faced a two-year wait before they could receive an initial assessment for the medicine.

The charity said sufferers in some areas could wait so long to meet consultants that they would no longer be eligible for the drugs as their condition would have deteriorated.

The executive cannot continue to allow this matter to drift Mark Hazelwood MS Society Scotland

Although the drug is only effective in one in six cases of the nervous system disease, campaigners said it could boost the quality of life for an estimated 1,600 people in Scotland.

Beta interferon is used to reduce the frequency and severity of episodes called relapses but cannot reverse the condition, for which there is no known cure.

Those opposed to the drug being introduced by the NHS argued that it was not cost-effective and had no long-term effect on the progress of the disability.

Last year Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm promised the drug would be available to all who needed it following complaints that it was not prescribed in some areas.

'Missed targets'

Director Mark Hazelwood said the executive would not meet its target of assessing suffers' suitability for the drug and another medicine, glatiramer acetate, by November this year.

He said: "People with MS were delighted last year when the minister announced that the drugs would become available.

"The executive cannot continue to allow this matter to drift.

"People who could still be working and playing a real role in bringing up their families have already missed the chance of treatment which could have changed their lives."

The executive pledged the drug would be available to all

Charity bosses claim Scotland, where about 10,400 people have MS, has the highest prevalence of the illness in the world.

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman acknowledged that some patients faced long waits for consultations and said new funding might become available to hire more neurologists.

She said: "Reasonable progress is being made to assess and treat patients at most of the centres in Scotland - indeed recruitment to the scheme has been progressing quicker than in England.

"However, Scotland does have one of the highest instances of MS in the world, which therefore means high demand for assessments for beta interferon and longer waits for assessment in some areas."