Legislative Report

The NDP Government and the Cancer Drug Avastin

I wonder what ever happened to the NDP's commitment to give cancer patients a timely answer on whether it would pay for the cancer drug Avastin. During last fall's session, we brought forward the case of Terry Rak who was told in September he would have to wait until November to find out if this cancer drug would be covered.

On December 1, former Health Minister John Nilson said two committees of experts would be reviewing the drug and making recommendations, with a decision likely the next week. Then the former Minister said the end of the year. Now it's the middle of February and we have a new Minister of Health. Patients are now being told a decision might happen in April. It's time for Len Taylor to make a decision-one way or another.

Now there is the case of Bob Loeppky from the Swift Current area. Like Mr. Rak, Mr. Loeppky suffers from colorectal cancer and Avastin will extend his life. The drug was approved by Health Canada in September and the B.C. government is already paying for it.

Time is running out for me to receive the benefits of this new treatment, Loeppky said. I need to make a decision about staying here, or finding other alternatives immediately because I don't have the luxury of waiting two or three months.

We in the Saskatchewan Party believe the Avastin case proves a new model is needed to allow for faster decisions on cutting-edge cancer drugs. B.C. is rated number one in Canada for its cancer drug approval process and we ought to look at how they administer care and make the necessary changes here in Saskatchewan.

Past Legislative Reports