Government is enhancing drug programs by adding 10 new drugs - or new indications for existing drugs - to help Islanders battle disease, says Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie.
“People who are dealing with a serious illness shouldn’t have to worry about whether they can afford approved treatments,” said Minister Currie. “Our government is committed to helping Islanders access the medication they need.”
Effective today, the High Cost Drug Program and Catastrophic Drug Program will provide coverage for:
• Revlimid for the treatment of Multiple Myeloma after a treatment failure (treatment failure could include chemotherapy and/or disease progression following successful stem cell transplantation)
• Revlimid for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome.
The Family Health Benefit Drug Program, Financial Assistance Drug Program, Seniors Drug Program, Nursing Home Drug Program and Catastrophic Drug Program will provide coverage for:
• Fragmin for the treatment and/or prevention of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.
• Innohep for the treatment and/or prevention of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.
• Lovenox for the treatment and/or prevention of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.
• Ondissolve ODF for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients.
• Pregabalin for the management of neuropathic pain.
• Tudorza Genuair for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• VFEND for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis (fungal infection).
• VFEND for the treatment of candidemia (fungal infection in the blood).
The Diabetes Control Drug Program, Financial Assistance Drug Program, Nursing Home Drug Program and Catastrophic Drug Program will provide coverage for:
• Lantus for the treatment of patients who have been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
• Levemir for the treatment of patients who have been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Patients must meet both the clinical and program criteria to be eligible for coverage of all the drugs above.
“This is a $1.1 million investment which will help lessen the financial burden for some Islanders in need of treatment and compassion,” said Minister Currie. “I want to thank the PEI Provincial Drugs and Therapeutics Committee for their ongoing work and recommendations to government.”