HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's premier has added his voice to a growing chorus of support for a national clinical trial for a controversial treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Darrell Dexter's comments in favour of his province's participation in a trial came Thursday in response to the Manitoba health minister, who wrote a letter to her provincial, federal and territorial counterparts seeking support for so-called liberation therapy.

The treatment is based on a theory that narrowed neck veins cause blood-borne iron deposits to build up and damage brain cells, and that unblocking the veins will help people with MS.

Dexter says his government would agree to a program that is led by the federal Health Department and agreed to by the other provinces.

"I'm going to be instructing and working with the minister of health to ensure that position is advanced in the health ministers' meeting this fall," he said.

Nova Scotia's government has to date resisted calls to fund the therapy, but Dexter says he is willing to await the results of a clinical trial before making a final decision.

He says the province owes it to those with the disease to fully consider the merits of the treatment.

Quebec's health minister came out in support of trials on Wednesday. And Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall offered last month to pay for clinical trials of the procedure in his province, encouraging other provinces to consider taking a similar approach during a recent meeting of premiers.

Clinics in Poland, Bulgaria and India are opening blockages for patients who have travelled from Canada and other countries in the last few months.

Some patients have posted testimonials on websites, in chat rooms and in YouTube videos, saying the procedure has reduced their symptoms.

There have also been numerous stories on television networks and newspapers giving the accounts of patients who claimed improvements.

However, two recent studies have cast doubt on the efficacy of the treatment, and some experts have raised concerns about the potential danger of manipulating veins.

The MS community is divided on the issue, with many saying more studies are needed before the treatment can be tested on humans.