January, 2007
Ontario seniors get better access to osteoporosis treatment
Ontario's government recently improved patient access to
medications by adding 23 brand-name drugs and 24 generic-brand products to the
Ontario Drug Benefit Plan (ODBP), which covers seniors and other select
patients. Included in the list were alendronate (Fosamax®) and alendronate
with added vitamin D (Fosavance®). Alendronate, a bisphosphonate, is one of the
osteoporosis medications recommended in Osteoporosis Canada's clinical practice
guidelines to treat osteoporosis in women and men. Alendronate has been shown to
reduce the risk of hip and spinal fractures. In the past, it was only available
on a "limited" basis under ODBP with coverage requiring paperwork completed by a physician. "By working with our pharmaceutical partners, we were
able to enter into agreements to list more drugs as well as increase our
capacity to list generic products and invest those cost savings into our
continued efforts to help patients gain even more access to new therapies," said
Smitherman, Ontario's Minister of Health and Long-Term
Care.
Osteoporosis Canada's President and CEO Karen
Ormerod heralded the announcement as "a big step in the right direction by
improving access to at least one of the best evidence-based medicines, for the
more than 500,000 people in Ontario with osteoporosis. This is especially
important to those Ontarians who are most vulnerable, those covered by the
ODBP. We are also hopeful that other provinces will follow suit in order
that Canadians, regardless of where they live, have access to the most effective medications." "In my practice, cost coverage is often a significant
factor for discontinuation, which can be as high as 50 per cent after one year
of treatment for patients without private coverage," said Dr. Aliya Khan, a
member of Osteoporosis Canada's Scientific Advisory Council and professor of
medicine, divisions of endocrinology and geriatrics at McMaster University. "Now
that the province of Ontario is fully covering alendronate, we should see better
patient outcomes when it comes to bone health." Vitamin D plays a vital role in ensuring the body
can absorb calcium - an essential element for good bone health. Fosavance, a
once-weekly tablet, combines alendronate with 2800 International Units (IUs) of
vitamin D, a significant portion of the recommended intake of the vitamin.
Osteoporosis Canada currently recommends that those over 50 have a daily intake
of 800 IUs of vitamin D and 1500 mg. of calcium.
Which osteoporosis drugs are covered in
your province?
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