DRUG PLAN COVERS REMICADE

Released on November 14, 2001

The Saskatchewan Drug Plan will cover Remicade for the treatment of Crohn's

disease and for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).



The drug is used to treat patients with severe cases of Crohn's and RA

where other drugs have not worked. In the first year, approximately 100

Saskatchewan Crohn's patients and 250 rheumatoid arthritis patients will

have their treatment covered by the Drug Plan.



"Knowing the difference that this drug has made in people's lives,

Saskatchewan Health has moved quickly to have Remicade covered under the

Saskatchewan Drug Plan," Health Minister John Nilson said.



Health Canada only approved Remicade for RA at the end of September.

Coverage for Remicade will be available under Exception Drug Status (EDS)

for patients who meet certain medical criteria. 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.



"Our two expert drug committees review the medical benefits of new drugs

and the value to the health system in a timely and efficient manner so that

Saskatchewan people have access to the most recent proven treatment

options," Nilson said.



The approximate cost of Remicade for one Crohn's patient is between $3,600

- $21,000 per year and for one rheumatoid arthritis patient is between

$15,000 - $19,000 per year, depending on the severity of the disease and

the number of treatments. It is estimated the cost to the provincial

government for Remicade for Crohn's and for RA in the first year will be

approximately $4 million.



Saskatchewan's Prescription Drug Plan currently covers about 3,500 products

and subsidizes the cost of drugs for approximately 111,500 families each

year. The Drug Plan paid out approximately $99 million in benefits to more

than 184,500 residents in 2000-01. The Saskatchewan Government will invest

$115 million for Saskatchewan Drug Plan expenditures in 2001-02, a 16 per

cent increase from the previous year.



The Drug Plan assists with drug costs for families with low income,

families with high drug costs and those with a combination of the two.

Saskatchewan is the only province that provides coverage of Remicade,

although other provinces are considering it.



-30-



For more information, contact:



Myrna Stark Leader

Health

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-4083