Latest news with #MedAccessBC
Cision Canada
5 days ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
Access to multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments inadequate in British Columbia
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 7, 2025 /CNW/ - Teresa Alfeld, a filmmaker who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), is calling for the provincial government to fund a medication that is available in every other province in Canada – but not BC. Teresa was diagnosed with MS in 2024, 20 years after her Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Because of her diabetes, she was recommended to treat her MS with ofatumumab (Kesimpta), because some of the other available treatments for MS could worsen her Type 1 diabetes. Hower, this medication is not covered by PharmaCare. BC is the only province in Canada that does not provide public coverage for Health Canada-approved, anti-CD20 therapies for relapsing MS – ofatumumab (Kesimpta) and ocrelizumab (Ocrevus). "My diagnosis was a gut-punch. After years of hard work building my filmmaking career, my future was suddenly in jeopardy," says Teresa. "On top of processing this life-changing diagnosis, I've had to fight for access to ofatumumab, a drug that I could easily access if I lived anywhere else in Canada." Ofatumumab is the only monoclonal antibody available as a subcutaneous self-injection rather than being delivered via infusion at a specialty clinic. This fills a significant gap in MS treatment for persons with MS who are recommended to be treated with a high-efficacy monoclonal antibody, like Teresa. Funding high-efficacy medications reduces the financial burden to health and social systems through fewer MS relapses requiring hospitalization and loss of employment. According to the Conference Board of Canada, as disability from MS worsens, costs incurred outside the health care system, such as informal care and productivity losses, continue to increase until they comprise two-thirds of all health costs. The appropriate use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) can provide significant health and economic benefits to people living with MS. Teresa and her family are now considering moving out of the province so she can access ofatumumab to manage her MS. "Not having access to Kesimpta doesn't just affect my health – it affects my ability to plan ahead and build a stable life," says Teresa. "This is an equity issue, plain and simple. I'm not asking for special treatment from the government, but for fair treatment for myself and every other British Columbian living with MS." MedAccessBC Urges Government to Take Action Teresa's story highlights a larger, systemic issue that the Medicines Access Coalition — BC (MedAccessBC) has been working to address for over two decades. MedAccessBC represents over 30 patient care organizations and advocates for fair, timely, and equitable access to medications for British Columbians. "People living with MS in BC should be able to access all Health Canada-approved treatments, which all other Canadians can access," says Don Bindon, co-chair of MedAccessBC. "MS is a disease that strikes people in the prime of their lives, and access to high-efficacy medications soon after diagnosis can delay disease progression. The provincial government should consider the productivity advantages of funding ofatumumab and ocrelizumab for relapsing MS." As a non-profit coalition, MedAccessBC continues to collaborate with patient communities, healthcare professionals, and policy makers to ensure that health decisions prioritize outcomes and do not compromise patient well-being in the name of cost containment. Call to Action MedAccessBC is urging the provincial government to approve and fund ofatumumab and ocrelizumab for relapsing MS through the BC PharmaCare program without further delay. Teresa's message to decision makers is simple: "While MS is unpredictable, treatment shouldn't be. I'm asking for the ability to manage my disease based on what works for me, not what PharmaCare happens to cover." About multiple sclerosis (MS) Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the world. On average, 12 Canadians are diagnosed every day. MS is a neurological disease of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord). Most people are diagnosed with MS between the ages of 20 and 49. MS is a continuous disease process that progresses through different stages over time, and everyone experiences it differently as severity, symptoms and response to treatment can vary from one person to the next. The unpredictable, episodic yet progressive nature of MS makes it particularly challenging to maintain an adequate quality of life. About the Medicines Access Coalition of BC: MedAccess BC advocates for improved access to medications and health technologies for individuals with chronic diseases. Representing over 30 patient organizations, it has been working since 1997 to improve access to evidence-based medicines through BC's PharmaCare program.
Cision Canada
05-08-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
BC Patient Calls for Equal Access to Life-Changing Treatment as Province Lags Behind Rest of Canada
VANCOUVER, BC, August 5, 2025 /CNW/ - Josephine (Joey) Kerr, a retired British Columbian who once led an active and vibrant life, is now calling on the provincial government to fund a life-changing medication that is available to patients in every other province in Canada—but not in BC. Joey was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) in 2019. Since then, she has undergone more than 85 blood transfusions - procedures that take an entire day and leave her exhausted for nearly half the month. "My life has changed drastically," says Joey. "I used to hike, bike, and swim regularly. Now I'm breathless, fatigued, and often too weak to leave the house." For patients like Joey, Luspatercept offers new hope. The medication significantly reduces the need for blood transfusions in MDS patients and is publicly covered in every other Canadian province. Despite its proven benefits, BC remains the only jurisdiction that has not approved public coverage. "It breaks my heart," says Joey. "I know of a woman in another province that went an entire year without a transfusion because of this medication." Beyond the personal toll, repeated transfusions place a significant strain on the healthcare system, requiring hospital resources, blood products, and specialized staff. "This isn't just about one person—it's about improving system efficiency and equity," says Joey. "I'm not asking for special treatment. I'm asking to be treated the same as other Canadians." MedAccessBC Urges Government to Take Action Joey's story highlights a larger, systemic issue that the Medicines Access Coalition – BC (MedAccessBC) has been working to address for over two decades. MedAccessBC represents over 30 patient care organizations and advocates for fair, timely, and equitable access to medications for British Columbians. "We are deeply concerned that patients in BC continue to face barriers to accessing treatments that are standard care in the rest of Canada," says Don Bindon, Co-Chair and Treasurer of MedAccessBC. "BC residents deserve the same level of care and access as all other Canadians. Luspatercept is a clear example where a delay in public coverage is causing unnecessary suffering." As a non-profit coalition, MedAccessBC continues to collaborate with patient communities, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to ensure that health decisions prioritize outcomes and do not compromise patient well-being in the name of cost containment. Call to Action MedAccessBC is urging the provincial government to approve and fund Luspatercept through the BC PharmaCare program without further delay. Joey Kerr's message to decision-makers is simple: "Help me live the rest of my life with dignity, energy, and independence. Let me have the chance to walk, swim, and maybe even ride my bike again." About Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are a group of diseases where bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells. Instead, the bone marrow makes immature blood cells, called blast cells (blasts), that do not work properly. They build up in the bone marrow and the blood and crowd out healthy blood cells. As a result, there are fewer healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. In the past, an MDS was classified as a disease that was not likely to develop into cancer, and it was called pre-leukemia. Now that more is known about MDSs, they are considered cancer. Sometimes, they are called bone marrow failure diseases. An MDS will develop into acute myeloid leukemia (AML) about 30% of the time. (Canadian Cancer Society) About the Medicines Access Coalition of BC MedAccess BC advocates for improved access to medications and health technologies for individuals with chronic diseases. Representing over 30 patient organizations, it has been working since 1997 to improve access to evidence-based medicines through BC's PharmaCare program.
