Provide compassionate coverage for drug

Re: “Woman fighting for her life needs our help,” comment,” Sept. 28.

I strongly support the idea proposed in James Anglin’s letter: that the B.C. Ministry of Health provide Lilia Zaharieva with compassionate coverage for the life-saving drug Orkambi. This must be done immediately, as Lilia has less than two weeks of Orkambi left, and the negative effects of withdrawal can be painful and life-threatening.

I understand that a formal drug review has determined that there is not enough evidence to approve Orkambi under the B.C. PharmaCare program. However, in 2015 a B.C. expert panel made the following recommendation related to a similar and equally costly drug (Ivacaftor), also used to treat cystic fibrosis: “The Ministry of Health recognizes that there may be some patients that may benefit from funding for Ivacaftor so may consider these on a caseby-case last-resort basis.” If the Ministry of Health funds Ivacaftor on a case-by-case basis, it should do the same for Orkambi.

I have known Lilia for two years as a research colleague and practicum supervisor and have witnessed her dramatic health gains and improved quality of life since being on Orkambi. On ethical and logical grounds, I urge the minister of health to provide Lilia with compassionate coverage of Orkambi so all the health benefits from the drug are maintained and so Lilia’s only other treatment option — a highly risky and even more costly double lung transplant — will be prevented. Deborah Rutman Victoria