RE: Enbrel in Canada

[Guest guest]

hi paula..

there is an argument in canada amongst the ten provinces as to who is

going to pay for the enbrel…two of the ten provinces pay for it for the

people needing it…the other provinces are refusing until all the old

methods of treatment are used up…unless someone chooses to pay for it

themselves..then they are welcome to….

the advocacy groups are fighting the premiers of the provinces to stop

being ignorant and to aid those needing it…

so a fair bit of politics involved in the process……but as the arthritis

society says….it is not necessarily something you really want to fight

for when the antibiotic protocol seems to have a far better track

record..

anyhow that is the latest from Canada as far as I know it…

hope this gives a bit of insight….

regards

sam

[ ] Enbrel in Canada

Enbrel wasn't available to Canada until March 2001. It became available

here in December 1998.

According to the Canadian Rheumatology Association, approximately

300,000 Canadians (1 in 100 people) are thought to have Rheumatoid

Arthritis. According to our Arthritis Foundation, Rheumatoid arthritis

affects 2.1 million Americans. There is a much larger demand in this

country for the medications to treat RA.

There is a well documented shortage of rheumatologists in Canada. Maybe

between the fact that it was approved much later than in the US, and

there aren't as many patients on it in Canada, plus the fact of less

rheumatologists available to prescribe it.

I don't have access to information about what countries get medications.

These are just my own thoughts about why the shortage may not affect

Canada. I personally have not been affected by

the shortage, but I get my medicines in 3 month quantities through the

mail. I'm hoping my next refill isn't a problem. If you have knowledge

about why this shortage is in US, I'd love to hear it.

a