Released on April 30, 2014
Saskatchewan multiple sclerosis (MS) patients will soon have access to a new oral medication. Beginning May 1, 2014, the province will provide coverage of Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) to treat adult MS patients with relapsing-remitting MS who meet certain criteria.“MS patients and specialists have been asking for coverage of this medication and our government is pleased to make it more accessible to those who need it,” Health Minister Dustin Duncan said. “This option does not require injections, and has the potential to improve the quality of life for MS patients by reducing the number of relapses they experience and slowing the progression of the disease.”
MS is a neurological disease that impairs or destroys the function of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. About 3,700 Saskatchewan people are affected – a higher per capita rate than anywhere else in Canada.
“The MS Society is very pleased with the news that Saskatchewan has given people living with MS in our province access to another option to manage the effects of their disease,” MS Society’s Saskatchewan Division Communication Manager Virginia Harper said. “With many new MS drugs coming on the market and offering a variety of ways they can be administered, we are happy the Ministry of Health continues to be responsive in the public listing of these new therapies. As always, we encourage all people living with MS to consult with their physician to find the course of treatment most appropriate for them.”
Saskatchewan is the first province among pan-Canadian Pricing Alliance (PCPA) members to provide coverage. Quebec, which is not part of the PCPA, also covers the drug. Saskatchewan led the negotiations which recently resulted in a pricing agreement between the drug manufacturer and provinces and territories. The PCPA capitalizes on the combined negotiating power of provinces and territories to obtain the best value for Canadians. Tecfidera was approved by Health Canada for use by MS patients in 2013.
MS patients seeking more information are encouraged to talk with their physicians, or call the Saskatchewan MS Drugs Program at 306-655-8400. The amount a patient would pay per prescription will be determined by their level of coverage under the Saskatchewan Drug Plan. Information on the Drug Plan’s Special Support Program is available online at www.health.gov.sk.ca/special-support or at 1-800-667-7581 (toll free) or 1-306-787-3317 (Regina).
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For more information, contact:
Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: tmcmurchy@health.gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-537-3594