by David Tompkins - April 26, 2007.

Newspapers are reporting that Cancer patients are spending tens of thousands of dollars in many Canadian hospitals and cancer clinics to gain access to new and effective drugs that the Canadian provincial government does not fund. In fact, in Ottawa, patients can purchase several intravenous drugs, including one to treat breast cancer. In another city, 10 different drugs have been sold to almost 40 patients. Some courses of treatment can cost a Canadian patient up to $24,000. While some hospitals fund the care on a case by case basis in all but 2 provinces. Some cancer drugs are not even covered by Provincial drugs plans such as BC Pharmacare.

The refusal to fund these drugs has left many oncologists in a healthcare dilemma because they are recommending treatments that their patients may or may not be able to afford. My father recently died of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and he had to pay for many of the cancer drugs that were not paid for by the province - one such drug was NeulastaŽ - this is a drug that is prescribed to reduce the risk of infection (initially marked by fever) in patients with some tumors receiving chemotherapy that may decrease the number of infection-fighting white blood cells. Luckily, he was covered under a health insurance plan which paid for the majority of the drug cost.

Many of these cancer drugs that are being sold prolong life, help prevent recurrence of provide less toxic treatment.

Note that not all cancer treatments, fees and drugs are covered by health insurers. One should check with the insurance company to see if they will cover the drug first if possible.

That illustrates the importance of getting Canadian health insurance if you are not covered by an employer group insurance plan. Healthcover.ca offers a variety of health insurance plans for Canadians from Manulife online.

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