Government apologizes for not providing health services

http://www.euro-me.org/news-Q42011-003.htm

The Norwegian Directorate of Health has apologised for the way in which ME patients in Norway have been treated. This follows the publication of the ground-breaking research from Haukeland University in Bergen (http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0026358).


After the publication of the Rituximab study by Fluge et al (2011) and extensive media coverage since then the Norwegian Directorate of Health gave a short statement on TV2 channel, see TV2 Nettavisen (http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/helsedirektoratet-vi-har-ikke-gode-nok-helsetjenester-for-mesyke-3618296.html).

A statement from the Norwegian Directorate of Health has been received where they apologise for not having provided the necessary and proper health services to persons with ME.

Such a public apology from a governmental health agency has never occurred before.

Bjørn Guldvog, Deputy Director General of theNorwegian Directorate of Health made the following statement

"Jeg tror at vi, i for liten grad, har klart å møte menneskene som har kronisk utmattelsessyndrom på en god nok måte. Jeg tror at det er riktig å si at vi ikke har utviklet en god nok helsetjeneste for disse, og det beklager jeg."

"I think that we have not cared for people with ME to a great enough extent. I think it is correct to say that we have not established proper health care services for these people, and I regret that."

Patients have thanked Norwegian channel TV2 for their massive media campaign - (http://menytt.wordpress.com/2011/10/22/me-syke-og-parorende-takker-tv2/)

The TV2 channel has set up a web page containing all mediacoverage they have had – which includes easy access to writings and video clips - (http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/helse/alt-om-megjennombruddet-3615866.html)