Health Minister Erin Selby announced that a drug used to treat cystic fibrosis is one of an additional 127 new medications added to Manitoba’s Pharmacare Program.
“Those living with cystic fibrosis and their families have to face many challenges, but one of those should not be worrying about medication costs,” said Minister Selby. “Adding coverage for Kalydeco to the provincial formulary will give those eligible for the drug one less thing to worry about.”
“We applaud the decision to cover Kalydeco for cystic fibrosis patients in Manitoba,” said Ken Chan, vice-president of advocacy, research and health care, Cystic Fibrosis Canada. “Patients will benefit from this new drug that fixes the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis, therefore leading to better health.”
“Having lived with cystic fibrosis my whole life, this is welcome news to me and my family. While there is no cure for cystic fibrosis, this drug is the closest therapy we have to one,” said Nick Ewasiuk, a 26-year old cystic fibrosis patient in Manitoba. “Being on Kalydeco means I’ll see an improvement in my health and now I can look forward to spending many more years with my family and friends.”
Other drugs added include those to treat illnesses and chronic conditions such as schizophrenia, lung cancer and diabetes including:
- Latuda for the treatment of schizophrenia;
- Methadose for opiate addictions treatment;
- Divigel for estrogen replacement therapy;
- Genotropin for treating growth hormone deficiency;
- Giotrif for the treatment of lung cancer;
- Jentadueto for the treatment of diabetes;
- Kalydeco for the treatment of cystic fibrosis;
- Mekinist and Taflinlar for treatment of advanced melanoma;
- Turdoza Genuair for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CPOD);
- Simponi IV for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; and
- Xarelto for the treatment of pulmonary embolism.
In addition, a number of devices used for the treatment of diabetes will be covered including certain types of needles, syringes, lancets and test strips.
Minister Selby said 90 of the new medications are generic drugs used to treat a number of conditions including Parkinson’s disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, depression, migraines and acid reflux. These new additions are expected to save Manitoba families $4.4 million over the next year, the minister noted.
Pharmacare is a universal, comprehensive prescription drug program for any Manitoban with benefits based on family income. It covers 100 per cent of eligible drug costs once the income-based deductible is reached, regardless of medical condition or age.
More than 3,800 medications have been added to the pharmacare program since 1999. Earlier this year, medications that help treat cancer, c. difficile infections, epilepsy and high cholesterol were added.
For more information on pharmacare, visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/pharmacare.
