CNIB applauds recent provincial and territorial announcements about wet AMD treatment in Canada
National vision health charity encourages remaining provinces and territories to cover sight-saving treatment for wet AMD
CNIB congratulates the governments of Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador and the Yukon, all of which have recently issued announcements regarding the provision of Lucentis, a groundbreaking treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), under their provincial/territorial health plans. Wet AMD is an eye disease that causes severe and rapid loss of central vision. It currently affects 100,000 people in Canada, and every week 60 more Canadians lose their sight because of the disease.
“CNIB is delighted that many more Canadians with wet AMD now have much better access to this sight-saving medication,” said John M. Rafferty, President and CEO, CNIB. “The governments of Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yukon are to be commended. They have now joined Ontario and Quebec to provide the gold standard of treatment to prevent permanent vision loss from this devastating disease.”
Saskatchewan and the Yukon are already covering Lucentis in their health plans. The government of Newfoundland and Labrador recently made a budget announcement that committed the province to reimbursing the treatment in the future. British Columbia will be adding the treatment to its formulary effective June 1 this year.
Lucentis has been clinically proven to restore lost vision for many people with wet AMD and was approved by Health Canada in 2007. Forty per cent of Lucentis-treated wet AMD patients experience a clinically significant sustained improvement in vision, while 95 per cent maintain their vision.
“CNIB strongly encourages Canada’s remaining provinces and territories to reimburse this groundbreaking medication as soon as possible,” said Dr. Keith Gordon, Vice President Research and Service Development, CNIB. “Treatment should not depend on where you live – and every week of delay means many more Canadians with wet AMD are needlessly going blind.”
Lucentis was approved for coverage under the provincial health plan in Quebec in 2007. The Ontario government approved it in March 2008. Lucentis is also reimbursed under government drug plans in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and France.
AMD is the leading cause of blindness in Canada, contributing substantially to the billions of dollars in direct and indirect health costs associated with vision loss in the country each year. It affects one million Canadians – more than breast cancer, prostate cancer, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease combined. Wet AMD is responsible for 90 per cent of the severe vision loss associated with AMD.
For more information, please see www.righttosight.ca.
CNIB is a nationwide, community-based, registered charity committed to public education, research and the vision health of all Canadians. CNIB provides the services and support necessary to enjoy a good quality of life while living with vision loss. Visit www.cnib.ca or call 1-800-563-2642 to learn more.
For more information please contact:
Yeena Peng
Communications Associate
CNIB
416-486-2500 ext. 8355
yeena.peng@cnib.ca