Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
A single pill regime of Sofosbuvir and Ledipasvir in Canada today for Geno types 1 as announced by Toronto Western Hospital Liver Study Clinic this is MAGICAL Hugs Don
How to get access to drugs approved by Health Canada?
1. I have money (cash) - you can access new medications shortly after it is approved by Health Canada. I would strongly suggest that you negotiate a steep discount for paying cash.
2. I have a drug plan - most private drug plans will take at least a month or more before they start approving the medication.
3. I rely on ODB (Ontario Drug Benefits) - this will take longer. The new drug has to be approved by a federal agency looking at cost effectiveness before Ontario can even look at it for funding. For example, ODB could not even look at Sofosbuvir until August 2014 even though Health Canada approved it at the end of 2013. Expect restrictions on who will get funded for treatment. It is very unlikely that those with minimal liver fibrosis will be funded for treatment given the very high cost of drug.
4. I cannot wait for ODB! If your liver disease is severe, there are compassionate programs from the drug company. However, you need to be really really sick. For example, late (not early) Childs A cirrhosis or Childs B cirrhosis, or if you have a non-liver complication of hepatitis C, such as vasculitis from cryoglobulins or B cell lymphoma. Both Gilead and Abbvie have been willing to entertain requests for early access to new drugs. For Abbvie, we have had a problem where the drug company was willing to give a patient drug but Health Canada (SAP program) denied the request to import the drug from the US!
thanks K
DIN for Canada: 0243226. Cost is $67,000 for 12 week
But if they don't want to cover it, I will put up a fight. If that doesn't work I will need to wait until something more affordable hits the market.
I have never worried about being covered for treatment before. But I am getting a bad feeling about this. It looks like the recommended treatment time would be 24 weeks for me. I think that will be the breaking point.