Government to create new seniors� drug program

Health and Community Services Minister Gerald Smith today outlined government�s plan to develop a new seniors� drug program.

"Government realizes that many seniors do not have access to private drug insurance or government drug cards. Therefore, starting next year, government will introduce a new seniors� drug program to ensure that every senior can have reasonable access to pharmaceuticals which are listed on government�s formulary," said Minister Smith.

The new program will replace the current seniors� portion of the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program and will also be consistent with the catastrophic drug program First Ministers agreed to develop. Minister Smith explained that the provincial government decided to move on a new seniors program now as the catastrophic program is not scheduled to come into effect until the end of 2005-06.

"Faced with this situation, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has decided to focus on seniors first. Rather than wait for the development of the overall catastrophic drug program, we have decided to proceed with the development of a new drug subsidy program for seniors," said Minister Smith.

The new program will cover all seniors. Currently, only seniors in receipt of the guaranteed income supplement can avail of government�s program. "Under the new initiative, the extent of coverage of program benefits will be linked to income to ensure that people who are not already covered by private insurance will be able to access covered drug therapies. In this way, the program will be fair and affordable for all seniors," said Minister Smith.

Minister Smith explained that government will seek input from seniors to ensure the new program meets their needs. "We want this new program to be properly designed for the needs of seniors in our province. To do this, a committee will be formed, which I will chair, and will be comprised of representatives from my department and include four seniors representatives. Design work on the new program will start as soon as the committee can be formed and will take six months to complete," said Minister Smith.

Minister Smith also announced today, on national Alzheimer Coffee Break Day, that the class of drugs which treat Alzheimer disease, will be added to the provincial formulary. This class includes the brand names Aricept, Reminyl and Exelon.

"Governments in Atlantic Canada have been studying this class of drugs which treat Alzheimer disease for some time. Before a decision with respect to coverage could be made, it was important to ensure that these pharmaceuticals would provide meaningful benefit to individuals with the disease sufficient to justify the costs. In addition, the benefits to the patients may also help reduce our institutional health care costs," said Minister Smith. "We are now satisfied that solid protocols have been developed for administration of this class of drugs, and we are pleased that clients of government�s drug program will have access to these drugs."

The Atlantic Provinces Expert Advisory Committee has recommended a detailed process for use by physicians, including an education component. A process will begin immediately to develop an implementation plan for the new procedures and it is expected to only take a few months to complete. "It will take some time to have the new procedures in place. Specialists and general practitioners in this province will be directly involved in the development of the implementation process. It is also important to secure the participation of the pharmaceutical manufacturers in financing this program, as has happened in the other Atlantic provinces," said Minister Smith.

"A major concern for seniors in our province is having access to drugs at reasonable costs. I am very pleased to be able to move forward on these changes to the provincial drug program. They are based on sound evidence, and will require continued partnership with our health professionals, a guiding principle we follow in our work in providing health and community services to the people of the province," concluded Minister Smith.

Media contact: Diane Keough, Communications, (709) 729-1377

2003 09 18                                         11:15 a.m.