National

Ottawa signs $40M deal with Saskatchewan to offer drug coverage for rare diseases

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Jan, 2025 03:16 PM

The Saskatchewan and federal governments have announced an agreement for coverage of select new drugs for rare diseases.

Ottawa says the plan is to invest more than $40 million to cover three drugs that treat certain cancers and a urinary issue.

The medicines are Poteligeo, Oxlumo and Epkinly.

The agreement is to also see Saskatchewan work with Ottawa and other provinces to develop a plan to improve screening and diagnostics for rare diseases.

Federal Health Minister Mark Holland says the deal helps the health system improve outcomes for those in Saskatchewan with rare diseases.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Two Quebec planes and their crews helping fight devastating L.A. wildfires

A pair of Quebec water bombers and their crews are in California helping fight the massive wildfires tearing through the Los Angeles area. Stéphane Caron of Quebec's forest fire protection agency — SOPFEU — says the two planes are sent to the U.S. each fall as part of an annual contract, the length of which was extended this year because of the emergency.

Two Quebec planes and their crews helping fight devastating L.A. wildfires

B.C. doctors comparing H5N1 virus that infected teen with that of Louisiana patient

The BC Centre for Disease Control says it is comparing the genetic features of a local teenager's avian flu case with that of a Louisiana patient who died earlier this week. Clinical microbiologist Dr. Agatha Jassem, co-program head of the virology lab at the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory, says they want to understand how the viruses in the two cases are related to each other, as well as to viruses circulating in birds.

B.C. doctors comparing H5N1 virus that infected teen with that of Louisiana patient

Dominic LeBlanc says he won't run for Liberal leadership as party caucus meets

The federal Liberal caucus gathered on Parliament Hill on Wednesday with speculation swirling about which of its members will put their names forward to lead the party into the next election — and with one potential contender bowing out. Just before the meeting got underway, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc posted a statement to social media thanking supporters for their encouragement and saying he's decided not to run in the upcoming race.

Dominic LeBlanc says he won't run for Liberal leadership as party caucus meets

Mounties seize 171,000 packs of illicit cigarettes in Langford

Mounties in British Columbia say officers have seized more than $1.7 million worth of contraband tobacco after executing a search warrant at a property in Langford. West Shore RCMP say in a news release that the warrant was granted in relation to suspected trafficking of the tobacco, and was executed by officers on Dec. 30 at a residential property on Setchfield Ave.

Mounties seize 171,000 packs of illicit cigarettes in Langford

Cargo ship stuck for 2 weeks refloats

A ship that had been stuck in the St. Lawrence River northeast of Montreal since Christmas Eve was successfully refloated on Tuesday. The Canadian Coast Guard says the MV Maccoa has been escorted by tugboats to a dock at Sorel-Tracy, Que.

Cargo ship stuck for 2 weeks refloats

Trudeau travelling to Washington for former U.S. president Jimmy Carter's funeral

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office says he will attend former U.S. president Jimmy Carter's funeral in Washington, D.C. on January 9. Carter died Dec. 29 at the age of 100. He was the 39th president of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981.