Plan For Alzheimer's Drug Coverage Released

Nova Scotia is the first Atlantic province to release a plan to insure three Alzheimer's drugs -- Aricept , Exelon and Reminyl

• through provincial Pharmacare programs.

The decision is based on the recommendation of the Atlantic Common Drug Review Expert Advisory Committee. The committee, involving geriatric specialists, family doctors and pharmacists, recommended that coverage be provided to Alzheimer patients with mild or moderate symptoms, who are assessed by their doctors as likely to benefit.

Health Minister Jane Purves said the drugs can delay progression of Alzheimer's disease in some patients.

"These drugs can enrich the quality of time a patient can spend with family and friends for as long as the drugs are working," the minister said. "These drugs offer one way to help manage this devastating disease."

The province will be working closely with Dalhousie University on an education program that will assist doctors in identifying patients who will benefit from the drugs. The education program is expected to take about six months to deliver across the province. Until the education program is completed, the province will work with doctors to provide temporary coverage for the drugs under Nova Scotia Pharmacare programs on a case-by-case basis.

A physician needs assessment, conducted in 2002 by the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia, reported that doctors across the province recommended education programs be available to help deliver better quality care to Alzheimer patients. The education program regarding the use of these drugs is in line with that recommendation.

Ms. Purves said this unique approach protects patients and makes the coverage affordable for taxpayers.

"Patients are protected against taking powerful drugs that have little or no benefit for some people. Taxpayers are protected too, against paying for expensive drugs that aren't working," she said.

"This is good news for patients and good news for doctors," said Dr. Colin Powell, geriatrician at the Centre for Health Care of the Elderly, QEII Health Sciences Centre. "Good news for patients because they have the same Pharmacare coverage of these drugs as 80 per cent of the country. Good news for doctors because, while new and expensive drugs are frequently restricted to specialists under the Pharmacare program, a way has been found to make these drugs available through the family doctors."

The drugs are about $150 a month per patient, costing taxpayers $1.4 million this year. The full-year costs for 2004-05 are estimated at $4.8 million. The cost in future years is expected to decrease since not all patients will benefit from the drugs or will be able to tolerate taking them due to the side effects.

"The Alzheimer Society has worked closely with the Department of Health," said John O'Keefe, society president. "Today's announcement is in line with the Alzheimer Strategy for Nova Scotia and last year's Initiatives For Action reports, both of which call for increased physician education and medication coverage as part of a comprehensive Alzheimer care program."

About 3,900 Nova Scotians have mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Nova Scotia joins Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta in making these drugs available for patients who are assessed as potentially benefitting from the treatment.

Making effective drugs more affordable and accessible for seniors is part of the Your Health Matters plan, released by government earlier this year.

Note:
The following Alzheimer Society and expert spokespersons are available for interviews by contacting Paul McNair at the number above: -- Dr. Colin Powell, geriatrician -- Bill Carr, Alzheimer Society Honourary Spokesperson -- Fred West, Alzheimer patient