Membership
It has come to our attention that the Ontario Public Drugs Program has made a change to the funding for Tracleer (Bosentan). This drug is used to treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) in patients. PAH is a very complex disease, requiring referral to specialists (respirologist, cardiologist, rheumatologist) to ensure appropriate diagnosis and timely management. PAH is a life threatening disease.
It appears that this funding change has been made for economic reasons. I for one have no problem with our government being prudent with our money, however I cannot accept these changes when these changes adversely affect the health of scleroderma patients.
In the past, when a Doctor prescribed Tracleer, he/she filed documentation to prove that the use of this drug was essential. Currently, outside of medical trials, funding for this drug is only available for PAH with a WHO (World Health Organization) Class III or IV. This implies a life expectancy of between 6 months and 2.6 years. What this means in simple English, is that this drug is being prescribed to very ill patients. It is the only drug to have proven to extend survival rates. There is little doubt that this drug is expensive. It can cost between $45,000 and $60,000 per year.
The government is now requiring an 8-12 week trial period of Sildenafil before Tracleer will qualify for funding. This new “step program” implies that Sildenafil has equal to or superior effectiveness than Tracleer. There appears to be no medical science to back up this claim. The approved dosage of Sildenafil has only been proven comparable in the 6 minute walk test. This requirement cannot be substantiated based on the current evidence. We have grave concerns about the science and ethics upon which this decision was made.
We believe that we must respond to this situation by bringing this to our MPP’s attention, and pressuring our MPP’s into having this decision reversed. I am asking for all of you to phone, write and/or e-mail your Member of Provincial Parliament, as well as the Minister of Health. I have included a sample letter for you to consider using to write your Member of Provincial Parliament. You will find your MPPs address at www.ontla.on.ca.
Collectively we can make a difference
Download the Sample Letter Here. (Word Format)
Hon David Caplan
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
900 Bay St, 6th Floor Mowat Block
Toronto, ON
M7A 1L2
Hon Margaret Best
Minister of Health Promotion
18th Floor, 777 Bay St.
Toronto, ON
M7A 1S5
