Manitoba government adds 94 new medications to pharmacare program

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba government is adding 94 new medications to its pharmacare program, including two that treat diabetes.

Some of the other drugs that will be covered are for multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C, schizophrenia and cystic fibrosis.

The added coverage is expected to save Manitoba families $3.9 million a year, the provincial government said.

Coverage for the new drugs will begin on Jan. 19. They include 80 generic drugs.

Pharmacare is a universal prescription drug program that covers 100 per cent of eligible drug costs once an income-based deductible is reached.

The new drugs added to the formulary include:

• Komboglyze and Levemir, for the treatment of diabetes;
• Aubagio, for the treatment of multiple sclerosis;
• Esbriet, for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis;
• Galexos, for the treatment of Hepatitis C;
• Invega Sustenna, for the treatment of schizophrenia;
• Stivarga, for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumours;
• TOBI Podhaler, for the treatment of cystic fibrosis;
• Actemra, for the treatment of polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; and
• a new strength of Xeomin, for the treatment of uncontrolled twitching of the neck and eye muscles.