Province paying the bill for new Hepatitis C medications

People in Saskatchewan living with Hepatitis C will now have support from the provincial government for new, better medications.
 
The province announced in a statement on Wednesday that it will now be providing coverage for Harvoni and Sovaldi. The province said the new drug therapies provide what amounts to a cure for hepatitis C for 90 to 98 per cent of patients within eight to 12 weeks, whereas older drugs do the same for only 60 to 75 per cent of patients in 24 to 28 weeks. It also said that the two new drugs are better tolerated by patients, and are just once-daily pills.
 
“We are very pleased that the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health has approved funding for these new treatments for chronic hepatitis C virus infection,” said Dr. Stephen Sanche, Royal University Hospital head of the division of infectious diseases, in the statement.  
 
“These medications will offer our patients a substantially greater chance of cure with fewer side effects and shorter treatment courses.”
 
Coverage is expected to be provided for about 1,100 patients who meet the Exception Drug Status criteria over the next three years. It’s anticipated to cost $8 million to $10 million in 2015/2016.
 
The province said it was able to get better prices for the drugs with negotiations through the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance.
 
Hepatitis C is a liver disease that is contracted primarily through infected blood, and can be a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a chronic problem.
 
Anyone wanting more information on the approval process and income assisted programs can contact the Drug Plan and Extended Benefits Branch at 1-800-667-7581 or 306-787-3317 in Regina.

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