REGINA – The Government of Saskatchewan will start providing coverage for a new drug to treat hepatitis C patients on August 1. Tuesday’s announcement coincides with “World Hepatitis Day.”
Holkira Pak will soon be covered for patients suffering from the viral disease. It is the third hepatitis C drug to be listed on the provincial formulary this year which also includes Harvoni and Sovaldi.
These new drug therapies are an effective treatment of chronic hepatitis C and can cure patients, according to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health.
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Approximately 1,100 people in Saskatchewan are expected to meet the medical criteria for these drugs over the next three years.
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes inflammation of the liver and can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and cancer. The Public Health Agency of Canada says the majority of HCV transmissions in the country occur through the sharing of contaminated needles and other drug paraphernalia.
“In addition to providing drug therapies, our province continues efforts to enhance prevention, encourage testing, and provide patient centred-services,” said Saskatchewan Health Minister Dustin Duncan.
For more information on the drug approval process and income assisted programs, call 1-800-667-7581 or 306-787-3317.
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