Government of Canada signs bilateral agreement with Saskatchewan to improve access to drugs for rare diseases

SASKATOON, SK, Jan. 10, 2025 /CNW/ - In Canada, 1 in 12 people live with a rare disease, and for most people suffering from these diseases, the cost of treatment is unaffordable. Canadians deserve a health care system that provides timely access to quality health services and medications, including effective drugs for rare diseases, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay.

Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Canada's Minister of Health, and the Honourable Jeremy Cockrill, Saskatchewan's Minister of Health, announced a bilateral agreement investing over $40 million to improve access to selected new drugs for rare diseases, and to support enhanced access to existing drugs, early diagnosis, and screening.

The first step in this bilateral agreement will be to deliver funding to support the province for the following three drugs under the National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases:

• Poteligeo, for the treatment of mycosis fungoides or Sézary syndrome;
• Oxlumo, for the treatment of hyperoxaluria type 1; and
• Epkinly for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma;

The names of other drugs on the common list will be published online on a drug-by-drug basis following the conclusion of the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance price negotiations for each drug. In addition, Saskatchewan is committing through this agreement to work with Canada and other provinces and territories on developing and implementing a plan for improving screening and diagnostics for rare diseases.

The Government of Canada remains committed to working with provinces and territories to improve health care for all Canadians, including access to affordable prescription medications and better health outcomes for everyone.

Quotes

"This agreement is another step toward building a stronger public health system for the people of Saskatchewan. By investing in drugs for rare diseases, this agreement will improve affordability and access to medications, early diagnosis, and screening, so that people in Saskatchewan with rare diseases have the best health outcomes possible."

The Honourable Mark Holland
Minister of Health

"The Government of Saskatchewan is pleased to partner with the federal government to benefit Saskatchewan residents and communities across the province. Through this bi-lateral funding agreement we are signing today, we are building on our existing efforts to enhance coverage and provide our residents and their families with even greater access to new high-cost rare drugs."

The Honourable Jeremy Cockrill
Saskatchewan Minister of Health 

Quick Facts

• In March 2023, the Government of Canada announced an investment of up to $1.5 billion over three years to support the National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases, including up to $1.4 billion for bilateral agreements with provinces and territories to help patients with rare diseases have access to treatments as early as possible, for better quality of life.
• Innovative treatments for rare diseases can cost anywhere from $100,000 to more than $4 million per year.

Related Products

• Backgrounder: Drugs for Rare Diseases – Saskatchewan Agreement
• Saskatchewan's Drugs for Rare Diseases Agreement

Associated Links

• National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases

SOURCE Health Canada (HC)

Contacts: Matthew Kronberg, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, 343-552-565; Media Relations, Health Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]; Public Inquiries, 613-957-2991, 1-866-225-0709