Hon. Adrian Dix
Minister of Health
Room 337, Parliament Buildings
Victoria, B.C.
V8V 1X4
Dear Minister Dix,
I am writing today to urge you to take immediate action on the expanded coverage of the lifesaving Cystic Fibrosis drug, Trikafta. Families across British Columbia continue to wait for the approval of this drug for children under the age of 12, leaving many children to suffer unnecessarily.
This drug can drastically improve a child’s quality of life, and even though it has been approved Canada‐wide, the fact that the B.C. families continue to wait is unacceptable. There is a clear need to speed up the approval and funding process to provide much needed relief for impacted children in our province.
In British Columbia this treatment can cost families upwards of $300,000 a year, and as such, funding support will make a significant difference. To many, Trikafta is considered the closest possible thing to a cure for people with Cystic Fibrosis, and the fact that this process continues to drag on months after federal approval causes unnecessary anxiety and harm.
We are calling for immediate approval of the expanded coverage of Trikafta in British Columbia, to provide relief for families and their children who have Cystic Fibrosis.
I am happy to discuss this with you further at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Shirley Bond
MLA Prince George‐Valemount
Opposition Health Critic
cc: Christine Black, Cystic Fibrosis Canada – Lead Provincial Advocate
