Manitoba adds 79 new drugs to province’s pharmacare program

The Manitoba government has added 79 drugs to the provincial drug formulary to ensure patients have access to these medications through the Manitoba Pharmacare Program, announced Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen today.

“Medications are important treatments for many different illnesses and diseases,” said Friesen.  “Manitoba’s universal prescription drug benefit program is one of the most comprehensive in the country and these new additions will help families across the province access drug coverage through the program.”

Some of the new drugs added to the formulary include:
•    Actikerall for the treatment of a skin disorder called hyperkeratotic actinic keratosis;
•    Dysport Therapeutic for the treatment of lower limb spasticity;
•    Kyleena for conception control;
•    Lancora for the treatment of heart failure;
•    Revestive for the treatment of short bowel syndrome (SBS); and
•    Spinraza for Type 1 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

Of the 79 drugs added, 73 are generic medications at different strengths.  The minister said the additions reduce the amount that would have otherwise been spent on higher-cost equivalent drugs by $350,000 annually, allowing that money to be reallocated to coverage for new drugs.

Coverage for the new drugs will be effective on Jan. 24, 2019.

The minister noted the addition of Actikerall, Dysport Therapeutic, Kyleena, Lancora, Revestive and Spinraza are a direct result of Manitoba’s participation in the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA).  By capitalizing on the combined negotiating power of drug plans across multiple provinces and territories, the pCPA objectives are to:
•    increase access to clinically effective and cost-effective drug treatment options;
•    achieve consistent and lower drug costs for participating jurisdictions;
•    reduce duplication of effort and improve use of resources; and
•    improve consistency of decisions among participating jurisdictions.

The Manitoba Drug Benefits and Interchangeability Formulary lists therapeutically effective drugs of proven high quality that have been approved as eligible benefits under the pharmacare drug benefit program.  Manitoba pharmacare is based on family income and covers 100 per cent of eligible drug costs once the income-based deductible is reached, regardless of medical condition or age.

For more information on the Manitoba Pharmacare Program, visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/pharmacare.