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Yvonne Jones, Opposition Health and Community Services Critic and MHA for
the District of Cartwright-L’Anse au Clair, says people in the province
suffering from Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are not getting the
proper treatment they deserve from the provincial government. These patients
are struggling to fund their drug costs, and now government is cutting the
MS nurse position that provides services to a large part of the Avalon and
Burin Peninsulas. "Government only funds MS and Arthritis drugs for
individuals on social assistance and with drug cards," said Ms. Jones. "The
minister fully knows that of the 1,030 people in the province diagnosed with
MS, only 400 of them actually receive the therapies that are prescribed. The
rest cannot afford the cost. There are 600 people in our province who cannot
afford these drugs which cost anywhere from $17,000 to $28,000 annually.
"In addition, there are 150 people suffering from psoriatic arthritis who
are going without medication. One of these individuals is Brenda Hickey of
Harbour Breton. The mother of two is laid off from FPI, no longer has any
health insurance, and now she finds herself in a position where she can no
longer afford these drugs.
"In every other province in Canada there is a co-pay system for all
patients who need these drugs. This province should implement the same type
of system. This province provides a subsidy to some patients, but this does
little for the lower and middle class people, many of whom get no subsidy at
all.
"Not only are these patients going without drugs, but many of them
are losing their nursing resources. As of tomorrow, the MS nursing position
that provides services to a large part of the Avalon and Burin Peninsulas
will be terminated. While government may claim their budget was great, these
decisions are certainly not getting praise from MS and Arthritis patients in
the province."
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