Cancer Society demands new drug coverage

The national president of the Canadian Cancer Society is on P.E.I. Tuesday to press governmentfor a catastrophic drug plan.

Prince Edward Island is the only province in Canada without a plan to help pay for costly drugs needed in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and cancer.New Brunswick was the other holdout, but the government there recently announced it is working to bring in a plan.

Pamela Fralick,president and CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society, will spend Tuesday trying to convince government officials to addmorecostly drugs to the list of medications it will cover.

"It doesn't ever have to be an all or nothing approach and every province has had to find their own solution, and what makes a catastrophic drug coverage program in their particular province," Fralick said.

Provinces with the added coveragerealize savings in other health care services," she said.

"Certainly P.E.I. has done some things, I know, but it's just not sufficient at this point," said Fralick.

She will meet with Premier Robert Ghiz at noon.