Ted Warren is president of the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of the Canadian Multiple Sclerosis Society. (CBC)

A group in Newfoundland and Labrador is urging the province to test Multiple Sclerosis patients to determine who may be eligible for a controversial treatment developed in Italy.

The procedure — known as liberation therapy — was developed by Dr. Paolo Zamboni, an Italian vascular surgeon.

Zamboni believes angioplasty, commonly used to treat cardiovascular disease, can also be used to treat MS by opening blood vessels to increase blood flow from the brain.

The province's health insurance plan doesn't cover the controversial therapy.

Ted Warren, who has MS, is leading a group that is calling for screening to determine who is most likely to benefit from the therapy.

"Doing that kind of testing shouldn't be that much of an extra strain on the medical system, shouldn't be that much of a strain on the government, but for people who are watching their lives slip away doing nothing is just too painful," said Warren, who is also the president of the St. John's chapter of the Canadian Multiple Sclerosis Society.

In late July, Newfoundland and Labrador's health minister said the province would only pay for liberation therapy if research proves that it is safe and effective.

"The evidence-based practice must remain the cornerstone of the health care system," said Health Minister Jerome Kennedy. "Clinical trials will determine if the Zamboni procedure works."

Saskatchewan announced in July that it would fund clinical trials of the treatment. Kennedy said on Wednesday that Newfoundland and Labrador does not plan to do the same.

Kennedy said that it would only duplicate work already being done elsewhere. He also said if the treatment does prove to be effective, the province's medical insurance plan will pay for it.

"If it works, it will move from an experimental procedure to a procedure that is covered," said Kennedy.

Some people on the Burin Peninsula are raising thousands of dollars to send one MS patient away for the treatment.

Several other people in the province have already travelled to other countries for the procedure.