Latest news with #HealthMinister
CBC
13 hours ago
- Health
- CBC
Vancouver Island family heartbroken as B.C. stops funding $1M drug for girl with terminal condition
A Vancouver Island family is in shock after learning the British Columbia government will stop funding an extremely expensive medication their young daughter needs for a rare genetic condition. Nine-year-old Charleigh Pollock is the only person in B.C. with Batten disease, or neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2). It's a rare and terminal genetic disorder that causes multiple seizures daily, eventually causing brain damage. Pollock's mother, Jori Fales, said the family is still processing the news, announced Wednesday, that the B.C. government will pull funding for Pollock's access to Brineura, a $1-million-per-year medication which is given through an infusion of fluid to the brain to slow the progression of CLN2. "Emotions have gone from sheer heartbreak to anger to sadness; it's just been a roller-coaster the last 24 hours," Fales said. Thursday marked Pollock's last infusion of Brineura. Fales called the government's decision to pull funding with one day's notice before the last infusion "a little heartless." She said her daughter has been let down. "At the end of the day, it should have always been the decision of her medical care team, and her family and Charleigh. And none of that has happened here." On Thursday, B.C. Minister of Health Josie Osborne said it was a tough decision to end the funding. She said the cost of the medication had nothing to do with the reason the funding was pulled, but that it was determined Pollock's condition had deteriorated to the point where she met "discontinuation criteria" for Brineura. "Clinical evidence shows that once a patient has declined in their motor and language functions by a certain amount, Brineura no longer has the benefit of slowing down the progression of the disease, although patients can continue to live on into mid-adolescence," Osborne said. Fales denied that her daughter's condition has worsened. "Charleigh is not in advanced progression of her disease. This is simply not true," she said. Dr. Ineka Whiteman, the head of research and medical affairs for the Batten Disease Support and Research Association U.S. and Australia and head of the Batten Disease Global Research Initiative, called the B.C. government's decision "appalling." She expressed frustration with the provincial government's emphasis on criteria to discontinue the medicine, which she said is based on old clinical trials. She added other families around the world are becoming concerned their access to the medication may also be reconsidered. "This is not just about a single child. This is really setting a very, very dangerous precedent." Fales said she plans to share her daughter's journey and advocate for others dealing with the disease.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Another country approves use of ‘magic mushrooms' to treat depression
New Zealand has approved the restricted medicinal use of psilocybin, a hallucinogen found in " magic mushrooms." The approval is specifically for patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression. Only one psychiatrist, Professor Cameron Lacey, who was behind the first clinical trials of psilocybin, is authorised to prescribe it under strict reporting and record-keeping requirements. Associate Minister of Health David Seymour hailed the policy change as a "real breakthrough" for individuals who have exhausted other treatment options. New Zealand joins other regions, including Australia, Switzerland, Oregon, and Colorado, in allowing some form of legal or restricted access to psilocybin for medical purposes.
CBC
2 days ago
- Health
- CBC
B.C. pulls funding on $1M drug for 9-year-old Vancouver Island girl with rare condition
The B.C. government said Wednesday it will be pulling funding for an extremely expensive drug used by one person in the province — a young Vancouver Island girl. Charleigh Pollock, 9, suffers from neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2, also known as CLN2 or Batten disease, a rare and terminal genetic disorder that causes multiple seizures every day, eventually causing brain damage. Pollock's name became known in 2019 when the province announced it would be covering the cost of a $1 million-per-year medication for her known as Brineura, which is given through an infusion of fluid to the brain to slow the progression of CLN2. Pollock is the only person in B.C. with the disease, which has no cure. "Expensive drugs for rare diseases add a layer of complexity to decision-making," Health Minister Josie Osborne said in a statement on Wednesday. However, she said, the cost of the medication has nothing to do with the recommendations made by medical experts that made this decision to stop coverage. Funding for the drug was approved when Pollock was three years old. Osborne said once a patient has declined in their motor and language functions by a certain amount, Brineura no longer slows the progression of CLN2. "Last year, it was determined that Charleigh's condition had progressed to the point where she met the discontinuation criteria for Brineura," she said. From there, she said the ministry undertook a review of the situation. The province said the decision to cover drugs for patients that fall under B.C.'s Expensive Drugs for Rare Diseases program are made based on recommendations from a committee of independent experts that use clinical criteria from by Canada's Drug Agency. "I know this is not what Charleigh's family wanted to hear. It's not what any of us wanted to hear," Osborne said. In a Facebook post made on June 13 prior to the decision being made, Pollock's mother Jori Fales said that after reading the Drug Agency's report, she couldn't see how the B.C. government would choose to stop coverage. She said Pollock's medical team feels continuing the medication is in her best interest. "Anything less is simply cruel and wrong," she wrote.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
YourHealthNS app to include more diagnostic imaging reports
Nova Scotians will soon be able to access more healthcare information about themselves through the province's YourHealthNS app. Mammogram, MRI, CT and PET scan reports will be available in the app as early as June 30. 'We continue to advance the ability for Nova Scotians to take a greater role in the healthcare they receive,' said Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson in a news release Monday. 'The addition of these reports is part of our continued commitment to empower Nova Scotians to better manage their healthcare.' It takes 14 days for the reports to be processed and available on the app once completed. The province says for each type of scan, the report will include the body part examined, the reason for the scan, the findings and a comparison with any previous scans. Images will not be available. X-ray and ultrasound reports have been available in the app since last year. The province says providing Nova Scotians with access to their electronic health records is part of a larger digital health transformation that also includes virtual care, e-referrals and more. The YourHealthNS app has been downloaded nearly 700,000 times since it launched in November 2023, according to a news release. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Singapore's latest Covid-19 surge shows signs of slowing, says health minister as cases and hospitalisations fall
SINGAPORE, June 15 — Singapore's recent Covid-19 wave is on the decline, with the number of weekly infections dropping to about 15,300, down from a peak of 26,400 in late April, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung. Describing the latest figures as 'encouraging', Ong noted in a Facebook post yesterday that the number of hospitalisations has also eased, falling to around 118 cases daily. At the height of the wave, hospitals were handling approximately 174 Covid-19 patients a day. 'The good news is that ICU (intensive care unit) cases remained consistently low throughout this wave, staying at just about two to three cases daily,' he said. 'This shows how our healthcare system has built up stronger resilience in managing Covid-19.' The minister also highlighted a drop in wastewater surveillance readings — a tool the authorities use to detect disease trends early. The falling levels add to evidence that the current wave is tapering off. However, Ong cautioned against complacency, noting that like seasonal influenza, future Covid-19 waves could still put significant pressure on healthcare resources. 'We will keep monitoring the situation closely, particularly the emergence of new variants, and update the public accordingly,' he said, stressing the importance of continued vigilance and preparedness for future pandemics.
