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The government has officially confirmed the inclusion of Sutent on the provincial formulary. This result ensures coverage for patients who were previously forced to navigate prohibitive costs alone. We will monitor the implementation phase to ensure these funds are distributed to patients without further bureaucratic delay.

January 12, 2009

Add Sutent to P.E.I.'s Provincial Formulary!

Add Sutent to P.E.I.'s Provincial Formulary!

🏆 Won — 1 supporters Verified

Final supporters

S
Sheila M.
Started by Anonymous 17 years, 10 months ago
Sutent is a (fairly new) medication prescribed to treat kidney cancer. Because kidney cancer is resistant to traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation,Sutent is that much more important for kidney cancer patients. Prince Edward Island is the ONLY province in Canada that does not include Sutent on its provincial formulary. This means that any patient that requires this drug, cannot be covered by any provincial or private drug plans. Sutent costs approximately $7,000.00 per month. The cost of this medication means that to many patients, it is out of reach, and to others, financially devastating. Cancer is a overwhelming diagnosis on its own, nevermind with the addition of financial crisis. Prince Edward Island spends the LEAST AMOUNT per capita on medications, compared to the rest of the country. There are currently over 70 medications waiting to be added to PEI's formulary. There are approximately 11 patients in PEI that require this medication and there will be more every year. Sutent needs to be added to the formulary NOW to allow patients access to a medication that is considered the STANDARD OF CARE.

6 Comments

M
Mark Lowe
17 years ago Featured

Fix this now. People are dying.

J
Jason Huang
17 years ago Featured

PEI needs to get with the program. 11 people? That is nothing compared to the suffering these people are going through.

L
Linda Lloyd
17 years ago Featured

My cousin passed away because we couldnt afford the costs of these new meds. stop making families choose between bankruptcy and living.

S
Sarah Osborne
17 years ago Featured

7k a month is basically a death sentence for most families. do the right thing for once!

B
Brenda Kennedy
17 years ago Featured

My brother is fighting this right now. The cost is insane. How can PEI justify leaving cancer patients behind when the rest of Canada covers this?

K
Kevin Hughes
17 years ago Featured

Absolutely ridiculous that it comes down to money. If it saves lives it should be covered period.