Despite having the highest infection rates, it's the only province that doesn't provide full funding
An opposition leader in Saskatchewan is calling for the province to give patients diagnosed with HIV universal coverage for antiretroviral drugs.
“The reality is this: we have the highest rates here in Canada and we're the only province who doesn't fund them 100 per cent,” NDP health critic Danielle Chartier told reporters. There were 170 new HIV/AIDS cases reported in Saskatchewan in 2016.
According to Chartier, front-line workers are telling her that HIV patients may forgo their medications or ration their prescriptions. That’s because they can’t afford the high price tag of antiretroviral drugs, which can cost hundreds of dollars a month, reported CBC News.
“This is about prevention through treatment,” she said. While antiretroviral drugs are highly effective against HIV, Chartier said taking them irregularly dampens their efficacy.
In defense, Saskatchewan Health Minister Jim Reiter said 93% of the province’s population are already covered, including the most vulnerable, low-income citizens and residents of reserves. Support is also extended to those spending more than 3.4% of their income on antiretroviral drugs.
Still, Reiter said the province is looking at the possibility to cover those left out. “We're seriously considering doing it,” he said. “But we want to be cautious because some of that gap, that seven per cent, is currently covered under private plans. We don't want to get in a position where government tax dollars are starting to backfill that.”
He said based on estimates from the health department, establishing universal antiretroviral coverage would represent an additional $700,000 expense for the province. Reiter also said that intravenous drug use accounts for the majority of new HIV cases, which suggests a need to educate people about behaviours that could exacerbate the risk of infection.
Related stories:
One in five Canadians with HIV unaware of their condition
Registered nurse helps Canadian patients get generic HIV-preventing drugs
“The reality is this: we have the highest rates here in Canada and we're the only province who doesn't fund them 100 per cent,” NDP health critic Danielle Chartier told reporters. There were 170 new HIV/AIDS cases reported in Saskatchewan in 2016.
According to Chartier, front-line workers are telling her that HIV patients may forgo their medications or ration their prescriptions. That’s because they can’t afford the high price tag of antiretroviral drugs, which can cost hundreds of dollars a month, reported CBC News.
“This is about prevention through treatment,” she said. While antiretroviral drugs are highly effective against HIV, Chartier said taking them irregularly dampens their efficacy.
In defense, Saskatchewan Health Minister Jim Reiter said 93% of the province’s population are already covered, including the most vulnerable, low-income citizens and residents of reserves. Support is also extended to those spending more than 3.4% of their income on antiretroviral drugs.
Still, Reiter said the province is looking at the possibility to cover those left out. “We're seriously considering doing it,” he said. “But we want to be cautious because some of that gap, that seven per cent, is currently covered under private plans. We don't want to get in a position where government tax dollars are starting to backfill that.”
He said based on estimates from the health department, establishing universal antiretroviral coverage would represent an additional $700,000 expense for the province. Reiter also said that intravenous drug use accounts for the majority of new HIV cases, which suggests a need to educate people about behaviours that could exacerbate the risk of infection.
Related stories:
One in five Canadians with HIV unaware of their condition
Registered nurse helps Canadian patients get generic HIV-preventing drugs
