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Liberal MHA Ball urges government to
assist with high drug costs
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Opposition Health and Community Services Critic and MHA for the District of Humber Valley, Dwight Ball, questioned government in the House of Assembly this week about providing assistance to people who need expensive drugs, including Avastin which is now used in the treatment of some vision problems. Ball points to the case of June Wheeler, a senior with obscured vision from a degenerative eye disease, who was forced to pay $4,500 for three treatments of Avastin, as well as the cost of travel to St. John=s to see a specialist, plus three tests that cost $100 each. She has pleaded with the premier and the health minister and was recently featured in the media highlighting the drug=s benefits for her disease, as well as the high financial cost associated with purchasing the drug. "I think it is unreasonable and extreme for individuals to have to struggle to pay for the drugs they need to restore their vision, A says Ball. A If doctors are recommending patients be treated with the experimental drug Avastin to help with vision problems, it is the responsibility of the Department of Health to help with the approval, or to help speed up the approval of this drug for coverage under the provincial drug plan so that residents in our province obtain the best possible medical care.@ The Liberal MHA says he was disappointed with the Minister of Health and Community Service=s response on this issue in the legislature. AHe tried to imply that this matter was out of the hands of the provincial government and that they were in some way restricted because the drug had not yet gone through Health Canada=s approval process. The minister understands that the provincial government has the option of assisting with this matter. If they so choose, they could find some way to provide assistance to the people who need these proven treatments." Ball noted that this government has been very reluctant to react to the catastrophic costs of drugs in many cases and that it has also been slow to approve funding for drugs even in cases where they have been approved by other provinces. AThis government is already on record saying they are very sympathetic to those individuals and families who struggle to afford the high costs of drugs and that they should not be denied access to health care because of financial need. If this is the case, I think it is time the government acted promptly to provide the support people need for better health, including better vision.@
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