Young girl with cystic fibrosis will have drug paid for by OHIP

TORONTO – Madi Vanstone, the young girl who suffers from a rare form of cystic fibrosis, will have her drug treatment covered by government health insurance.

Beth Vanstone, Madi’s mother, confirmed to Global News Friday she received a call from the ministry of health earlier in the day to let her know the drug treatment, Kalydeco, will be covered by OHIP.

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The drug treatment costs approximately $300,000 each year.

The Vanstone family had been paying for the drug with the help of donations and had urged Premier Kathleen Wynne to find a way for the drug to be covered by OHIP.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. – the company that manufactures the drug – recently reached a deal with several provinces that enabled provincial health insurance to cover the cost.

Vertex says about 100 Canadians with cystic fibrosis are candidates for Kalydeco.