Drug Coverage

• Woman with blood disorder finds B.C. is only province not to cover ‘life-changing’ drug

  Joey Kerr was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, which is a rare blood disorder where bone marrow fails to produce healthy blood cells.

  Health

  Dec 18, 2025
  
• B.C. diabetics hoping for ‘life-changing’ coverage in new pharmacare bill

  Pharmacare legislation flowing from a deal between the federal Liberals and NDP is expected to be introduced in the House of Commons as early as Thursday or Friday.

  Health

  Feb 28, 2024
  
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• Manulife will cover specialty drugs at any pharmacy after Loblaw deal backlash

  Manulife Financial has reversed course after initially saying it would transition customers getting specialty drug coverage to fill their prescriptions at Loblaw-owned pharmacies.

  Health

  Feb 5, 2024
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• B.C. man with terminal cancer paying out of pocket for treatment to extend his life

  Ronny Borkowski has been told he has incurable leukemia, but that a drug could help him live longer. The catch? The $8,000 per month treatment isn't covered by the government.

  Health

  Jul 7, 2023
• ‘Fill-the-gaps’ programs can’t replace Liberal promise of pharmacare, advocates say

  As pressure builds on the Liberals to implement pharmacare, questions are being raised about whether Ottawa’s model will materialize as a truly universal, single-payer program.

  Health

  Jan 24, 2023
• B.C. doctors call for better access to ‘special authority’ drugs, including for diabetics

  Ozempic, billed as a revolutionary drug for Type 2 diabetics, is on the province's list of "special authority" medications. It is not regularly eligible for full coverage.

  Health

  Nov 23, 2022
• Alberta funds injectable treatment Sublocade as opioid-related EMS calls spike

  Over seven days, from Nov. 29 to Dec. 5, emergency medical services responded to 140 opioid-related calls in Edmonton and 85 in Calgary.

  Health

  Dec 8, 2021
• Advocates warn move to biosimilar drugs under new N.B. plan could affect patients

  Impacting about 3,000 patients, the New Brunswick Drug plan will cover biosimilar drugs and no longer cover the more-expensive biologics as of Nov. 30.

  Health

  Nov 11, 2021
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• Insurance denies Halifax man a life-changing drug for his cystic fibrosis

  Stefan Strecko can't afford the medication -- at a cost of about $25,000 a month -- without insurance.

  Health

  Aug 30, 2021
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• UBC student marks graduation 4 years after potentially fatal diagnosis

  Shantee Anaquod was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease in 2017 and became the face of a fight to get provincial coverage for the expensive drug that turned her life around.

  Health

  Jun 2, 2021