Drug spending authorities in England and Wales have clashed over whether a cannabis-based drug for treating pain in multiple sclerosis (MS) should be reimbursed by the NHS.

Sativex, a spray which treats painful spasms in the neurological disease, has been given the green light in Wales but not in England.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) on Wednesday issued its final updated guidelines for MS in which it ruled that Sativex and another drug, Fampridine, should not be used as they are not cost-effective.

However an earlier assessment of Sativex by the Welsh government determined that the cannabis-based spray should be made widely available through the NHS in Wales.

For more details, go to: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/pharmaceuticalsandchemicals/11146849/England-Wales-divide-over-cannabis-based-MS-drug-looms.html