Released on May 10, 2000
The list of drugs available to Saskatchewan people under the Prescription DrugPlan has been expanded.
Forty new products were approved for coverage as of May 1, 2000. The list
includes some new drugs such as Gluconorm, a new treatment for diabetes;
Actonel, a new treatment for Paget's Disease (a bone disease); and Maxalt,
another alternative to treat patients with migraine headaches.
There are also a number of new brands, strengths or dosage forms of currently
listed products for conditions ranging from asthma to high cholesterol.
Many of the new products are covered only under Exception Drug Status (EDS).
Physicians and pharmacists can apply for coverage of EDS drugs on behalf of
their patients. The EDS program is designed to target drugs to those patients
most likely to benefit, based on medical criteria.
"Our independent drug review process examines all new drugs to determine those
that have proven benefits for people and the greatest value to health care,"
Associate Minister of Health Judy Junor said. "We are pleased to be able to
help provide these new treatments which can help improve the health and well
being of our citizens."
The Saskatchewan Prescription Drug Plan now covers more than 3,000 products and
assists more than 100,000 families with the cost of drugs. To keep pace with
the growing number of prescriptions and the rising cost of drugs, the Drug Plan
budget was increased by 27 per cent in the 2000-2001 budget, to $99 million.
Another eight new drugs were reviewed and not approved for coverage. Drugs are
not approved when the clinical results are uncertain or the benefits of the
drug are not considered sufficient to warrant coverage.
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For more information, contact:
Jeff Brown
Saskatchewan Health
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-4088