TORONTO – There’s hope today that a young girl’s fight for a life-saving drug could finally be over.
A 12-year-old Beeton, Ont. girl with a rare form of cystic fibrosis has been battling politicians at Queen’s Park to find out if the province is able to help cover the cost of the drug Kalydeco.
Madi Vanstone met with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne several times this year and was promised to expedite a joint effort by the provinces to secure a lower price for the drug from the American manufacturer.
After proposals from both sides, the company, Vertex, has not been able to reach an agreement to bring down the cost.
This afternoon, Ontario’s Health Minister, along with health ministers from Alberta and the Yukon, will finally sit down face to face with the company in Toronto and Madi, including her family, plan to be there even though they are not allowed to attend the meeting.
READ MORE: Provinces want U.S. company to lower price for cystic fibrosis drug
Vanstone’s family and friends have had to raise the $349,000 a year that’s needed to pay for the pills which are not covered by OHIP.
Her mother, Beth Vanstone, complained that it’s taken too long to negotiate a price with Vertex when 15 other countries have managed to do it.
WATCH: A 12-year-old girl fighting a rare form of Cystic Fibrosis is ‘frustrated’ by the inability of the government to secure a lower price for her expensive drugs. Cindy Pom reports.
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