ABOVE: Milton woman with terminal cancer hopes for a ‘Christmas miracle.’ Cindy Pom reports.
TORONTO – A Milton, Ont. woman with terminal brain cancer was joined by fellow patients at Queen’s Park Tuesday to urge the provincial government to have certain life-saving drugs paid for under Ontario’s Health Insurance Plan.
“We’re asking for a Christmas miracle to happen today where Miss Matthews and the government would approve our medications,” said 41-year-old Kimm Fletcher during a press conference. “Make an exception for us at this time. In order to possibly enjoy next Christmas together again, is what I’m asking for.”
Fletcher needs the drug Avastin to help prolong her life but it is not currently covered by OHIP.
The drug cost approximately $4,300 per treatment but Fletcher has been able to receive several treatments through donations.
The province’s Committee to Evaluate Drugs (CED) has twice reviewed Avastin, and found the drug “has not been proven to improve survival,” Health Minister Deb Mathews said during Question Period in October.
Progressive Concervative MPP Ted Chudleigh, who sat alongside Fletcher during the press conference, wants the health minister to step in and approve the drug.
“The committee is not responsible to patients, the minister is and in every other province, the minister has that authority,” said Chudleigh. “So the immediate solution is to put the minister in charge of health care once again.”
But Mathews insists she is not able to independently do so without breaking the law.
Fletcher has been paying for her treatments through fundraising efforts which have raised over $100,000.
“The health minister’s committee to evaluate drug refuses to approve for OHIP listings because it has concluded it is ineffective even though it is approved by three other provinces and has been very effective with Kim,” said Chudleigh.
British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have approved the drug’s use.
Bradford teen Madi Vanstone, who was also in attendance at Queen’s Park Tuesday, was joined by her mother Beth in support of expanding drug coverage.
The 12-year-old suffers from cystic fibrosis (CF) and requires the drug Kalydeco to help her control the disease.
“It makes me crazy to think that Madi, and there are many people with CF that are literally dying in this country and there’s a drug there that can save them and it’s not being paid for,” said Beth.
Donations from the community are helping to pay for the nearly $6,000 a month drug bill for Madi’s treatments.
“I want to have Kalydeco paid for and I want to be healthy like everyone else,” said Madi.
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