Steinbach and Area Community News

The province is adding 120 drugs to PharmaCare, giving Manitobans greater choice and easing the burden of drug costs for patients and families, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced today.

“Our government is continuing to enhance and expand Manitoba’s highly regarded PharmaCare program to help ensure families get the prescription drugs they need,” Oswald said. “Today, we have added new drugs to PharmaCare coverage including medications for stroke prevention, psoriasis and hepatitis C, diabetes testing supplies, as well as the first drug addition to our new Home Cancer Drug Program.”

The minister noted, since 1999, approximately 3,000 new drugs have been added to the PharmaCare program.

The changes to the formulary include the addition of new, innovative drugs for Manitobans including:

• Pradax and Xarelto for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation;
• Stelara for psoriasis;
• Victrelis and Victrelis Triple for hepatitis C; and
• Zelboraf for the treatment of skin cancer.

Coverage is also being added for an assortment of products used in the treatment of diabetes including the Accu-Chek Mobile Blood Glucose Test Cassette, Ulticare Pen Needles 32 Gauge and a variety of test strips.

“Dozens of additional generic drugs have also been added to PharmaCare today, which are available at a lower price than the brand-name alternatives, saving both PharmaCare and patients money,” Oswald said. “In addition, the province has negotiated even lower prices for many generic drugs over the last several months and this work is expected to save over $12 million this fiscal year.”

Coverage for the new drugs is effective immediately. For more information, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/health/mdbif.

PharmaCare is a universal, comprehensive prescription drug program for any Manitoban with benefits based on family income. It covers 100 per cent of eligible drug costs once the income-based deductible is reached, regardless of medical condition or age.