Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. Expands Drug Program Touted As Saving Money But Patients Say It Costs Them

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Jun, 2016 01:26 PM
  • B.C. Expands Drug Program Touted As Saving Money But Patients Say It Costs Them
VANCOUVER — British Columbia has expanded a drug program that provides patients with cheaper medications to treat the same illness, but critics say seniors and low-income people will be forced to pay out of pocket if they can't switch to alternatives.
 
As of Dec. 1, the Reference Drug Program will include three new categories of drugs: some that treat high blood pressure and heart disease, others for stomach-acid issues, and statins that treat high cholesterol.
 
Cheaper categories of other drugs that treat high blood pressure and heart disease have also been added to the program, along with another class of medications for stomach-acid conditions.
 
Nitrates, for people suffering from heart disease, and a class of drugs that treat pain and reduce inflammation are already part of the program.
 
Cheryl Koehn, who speaks for the advocacy group Arthritis Consumer Experts, says thousands of patients who may have to switch to cheaper drugs will be affected by the changes.
 
Koehn says that while she has a private drug plan that covers the cost of the rheumatoid arthritis medication she's taken for years, others will have to pay out of pocket or switch to a cheaper alternative that may not be as effective.

MORE National ARTICLES

Thousands Pay Homage As Nirankari Spiritual Guru Baba Hardev Singh Cremated

Thousands Pay Homage As Nirankari Spiritual Guru Baba Hardev Singh Cremated
Thousands of devotees of the Nirankari sect gathered here as spiritual leader Baba Hardev Singh, who died in Canada last Friday, was cremated with full honours at the national capital's Nigambodh Ghat on Wednesday.

Thousands Pay Homage As Nirankari Spiritual Guru Baba Hardev Singh Cremated

First Retail Licence Granted To Vancouver Marijuana Dispensary

First Retail Licence Granted To Vancouver Marijuana Dispensary
VANCOUVER — The City of Vancouver has issued its first business licence to a medical marijuana dispensary in its plan to manage the proliferation of illegal shops.

First Retail Licence Granted To Vancouver Marijuana Dispensary

B.C. Premier Says It's Time Feds Approve LNG But Denies Linkage To Oil Pipelines

B.C. Premier Says It's Time Feds Approve LNG But Denies Linkage To Oil Pipelines
OTTAWA — B.C. Premier Christy Clark says it's long past time for the federal government to issue environmental permits for a multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas terminal in Prince Rupert.

B.C. Premier Says It's Time Feds Approve LNG But Denies Linkage To Oil Pipelines

B.C. Forests Minister Says Campers Can Expect More Camp Fire Bans This Summer

B.C. Forests Minister Says Campers Can Expect More Camp Fire Bans This Summer
VICTORIA — Forests Minister Steve Thomson says he's preparing to take swift action this summer when it comes to issuing camp fire bans, with this long weekend being one of the few holidays where the fires are allowed across British Columbia.

B.C. Forests Minister Says Campers Can Expect More Camp Fire Bans This Summer

Watch: Justin Trudeau Apologizes In House For 1914 Komagata Maru Incident

Watch: Justin Trudeau Apologizes In House For 1914 Komagata Maru Incident
PM Justin Trudeau made a formal apology in the House of Commons for the Komagata Maru incident in 1914. 

Watch: Justin Trudeau Apologizes In House For 1914 Komagata Maru Incident

Ontario Nurse Who Abused 19 Long-Term Care Residents Has Agreed To Resign Permanently

Ontario Nurse Who Abused 19 Long-Term Care Residents Has Agreed To Resign Permanently
Details of abuse suffered by 19 residents of a long-term care facility in London, Ont., have been made public.

Ontario Nurse Who Abused 19 Long-Term Care Residents Has Agreed To Resign Permanently