Postal Service Disruption | Interruption des services postaux

Show more Show less

Government of Saskatchewan ministries, Crown corporations and organizations are working to minimize the impacts of the postal service disruption.

Les ministères, les sociétés d’État et les organismes du gouvernement de la Saskatchewan travaillent à réduire au minimum les répercussions de l’interruption des services postaux.

Language

Google Translate Disclaimer

A number of pages on the Government of Saskatchewan's website have been professionally translated in French. These translations are identified by a yellow box in the right or left rail that resembles the link below. The home page for French-language content on this site can be found at:

Renseignements en Français

Where an official translation is not available, Google™ Translate can be used. Google™ Translate is a free online language translation service that can translate text and web pages into different languages. Translations are made available to increase access to Government of Saskatchewan content for populations whose first language is not English.

Software-based translations do not approach the fluency of a native speaker or possess the skill of a professional translator. The translation should not be considered exact, and may include incorrect or offensive language. The Government of Saskatchewan does not warrant the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information translated by this system. Some files or items cannot be translated, including graphs, photos and other file formats such as portable document formats (PDFs).

Any person or entities that rely on information obtained from the system does so at his or her own risk. Government of Saskatchewan is not responsible for any damage or issues that may possibly result from using translated website content. If you have any questions about Google™ Translate, please visit: Google™ Translate FAQs.

NEW DRUG BENEFITING HEPATITIS C PATIENTS

Released on January 28, 2000

Dozens of Hepatitis C patients in Saskatchewan are benefiting from a new drug

approved in 1999 under the province's Drug Plan.



Rebetron was added to the Drug Plan last April under Exception Drug Status

(EDS). Since then, 80 people have received the drug.



Rebetron therapy is a combination of two drugs. Taken together, the two are

more effective than the only other treatment previously available, alpha

interferon. Rebetron can help new patients, or those who are no longer

responding to interferon alone and give them a better chance of going into

remission.



"This is a good example of how our Drug Plan responds to opportunities to help

improve care for a group of patients," Associate Minister of Health Judy Junor

said. "I'm pleased that Saskatchewan was the first province in Canada to

determine the effectiveness of Rebetron and to provide coverage."



Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver that can cause a variety of health

problems including potentially fatal liver damage. Treatment with Rebetron

typically lasts 24 weeks and costs up to $12,000 per patient. Patients pay a

small share of the cost.



"Our province's two drug review committees thoroughly review all the medical

research to identify drugs that are proven effective and can be of the greatest

benefit to our citizens," Junor said.



A total of 27 new drugs were added to the Drug Plan in 1999, many under

Exception Drug Status. Physicians and pharmacists can apply for EDS on behalf

of their patients. The EDS program is designed to target drugs to those

patients most likely to benefit, based on medical criteria.



-30-



For more information, contact:



Peter Mayne

Communications Branch

Saskatchewan Health

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-7296

We need your feedback to improve saskatchewan.ca. Help us improve