The Canada Health Act ensures that all Canadians have access to all insured health services such as medically necessary hospital services, inpatient pharmaceuticals (medicines used while ou are hospitalized), and all medically required physician services. Prescription drugs used by individuals as outpatients such as with CML patients treatments with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKI’s) are not paid for by the system.
All drugs marketed and sold in Canada must be reviewed and approved for sale by the Federal Government through Health Canada. Although it is the federal government that approves medicines, it is the responsibility of each of the provinces to review and approve the use and reimbursement of all medicines. Depending on the Province you live in you may or may not have access to a certain drug based on how the province independently decides to provide access to it. By clicking on the province below you will find information regarding the coverage to TKI’s for your region as well as the current situation regarding the availability of generic imatinib mesylate.
Importantly, generic formulations of imatinib mesylate (Gleevec®, Novartis) are now available in Canada and are being marketed by two different manufacturers, TEVA and Apotex. Please make sure you familiarize yourself with The CML Society of Canada suggested guidelines for patients switching to generic imatinib mesylate, by clicking on this link: Generics Arrive in Canada.
Click here for Drug/Food Interaction Chart
Click on the map below for information regarding government reimbursement in your province.
