Feds, GN sign funding plan for rare drugs
Federal and territorial government health ministers agree to fund medications needed to combat rare diseases
Nunavut Health Minister John Main says the funding plan announced Thursday “will support our efforts to strengthen screening for rare diseases, and the travel that is often required for Nunavummiut who need specialized treatment and care.” (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
An agreement to work together on funding drug treatments for rare diseases has been put in place by the Nunavut and federal governments.
In a news release Thursday, Mark Holland — who at the time was federal health minister but was replaced in the new cabinet Friday by Kamal Khera — and his territorial counterpart John Main announced a deal committing more than $7.3 million over three years to improve access for Nunavummiut to selected new drugs for rare diseases.
A list of drugs included in the plan can be found at Health Canada’s website.
“Through this additional funding, Nunavummiut will have greater access to new and emerging high-cost rare drugs,” Main said in the news release.
The drugs are not rare. The diseases that the drugs are for are rare.