Winnipeg family urges province to cover the cost of new cystic fibrosis drug
CBC
A Winnipeg mother is urging the Manitoba government to cover the cost of a new revolutionary drug for cystic fibrosis that she hopes could dramatically improve her son's life.
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec have all recently announced they will cover Trikafta — which costs about $300,000 a year — for eligible patients.
"There's so much hope that comes with this beautiful medication and and the miracles that it is performing for so many people," said Desniege Meyer, whose son lives with the genetic disease.
"But then there's this profound lack of justice that because we live in Manitoba, we not only don't have access to the drug, but we don't know when we'll have access to this drug."
Her son Beckett, 13, has spent much of his life in and out of hospital.
The disease causes a build up of thick mucus in the body, which can cause chronic respiratory infections, digestive problems and other complications.
Health Canada approved Trikafta in June for use in people age 12 and up with at least one genetic mutation that causes cystic fibrosis.
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