Manitoba adds 54 new drugs to pharmacare program

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/07/2015 (3190 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Patients now have access to an additional 54 new drugs through Manitoba’s pharmacare program, including Hokira Pak, a highly effective treatment for hepatitis C, Health Minister Sharon Blady has announced.

The announcement coincides with World Hepatitis Day on Tuesday. Earlier this year, the province also added three other drugs — Solvaldi, Harvoni and Ibavyr — to its formulary to fight Hepatitis C, a liver disease caused by a virus spread through blood-to-blood contact.

“We have entered a new era in the fight against hepatitis C,” said Kirk Leavesley, chairperson of the Manitoba Hepatitis C Support Community Inc. “Well-tolerated treatments are now available with more than a 95 per cent success rate. We now have the means to make a huge impact in the elimination of hepatitis C worldwide and the suffering of those affected.”

The new Holkira Pak hepatitis C drug has a cure rate of more than 90 per cent and few, if any, side effects, the government said in a news release.

Some of the other new drugs added to the formulary include:

• Anoro Ellipta and Ultibro Breezhaler for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;

• Diacomit for the treatment of epilepsy;

• Fosrenol for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia (the presences of abnormally high levels of phosphate in the blood);

• Inspra for the treatment of heart failure;

• Janumet and Janumet XR for the treatment of diabetes;

• Jaydess for contraception;

• Metadol for the treatment of chronic pain;

• Myrbetriq for the treatment of overactive bladder; and

• Tivicay for the treatment of HIV.

Blady said the addition of Anoro Ellipta, Diacomit, Holkira Pak, Inspra, Myrbetriq, Tivicay and Ultibro Breezhaler to the formulary is a direct result of Manitoba’s participation in the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance. The alliance brings provincial governments together to negotiate better prices on both brand name and generic prescription drugs, making them more affordable in the long term.

Of the 54 drugs added, 24 are generic medications. Coverage for the new drugs came into effect on July 22.

Pharmacare is a universal, comprehensive prescription drug benefit program for Manitobans 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.