The payment required for drugs to treat cancer not supported by pharmacare is tragic. I feel sorry for the burden it causes, especially at such times as they are fighting for their lives. 

But cancer patients are not the only ones suffering under the burden of huge expenses for chronic illness. My 37-year-old son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 8. In 2017 his family doctor retired and since then he has been without a family physician. In 2018 he had a retinal bleed and was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. He had three operations and was put on an insulin pump, and constant glucose monitoring system and was unable to work for a few months.

In 2018 his diabetes costs were $36,000 and not one cent was covered by pharmacare. For the last five years, his diabetic costs were approx $8-9,000 dollars per year, still not covered. As the numbers show, that is a huge burden on a young man. 

He since found out that he was not covered as his family doctor did not write the prescriptions. For a time he was able to get his prescriptions filled at walk-in clinics but they no longer have true walk-in clinics anymore. You have to make an appointment first thing in the morning to see a doctor. Working full time to try and pay for his supplies, he finds it an impossible situation. His pharmacist issued the prescriptions. My son was lucky to have parents to help him out at times. 

Surely pharmacare realizes that his diabetes is a lifelong affliction and should be given the benefit of pharmacare with or without a doctor.

I plead with anyone who will listen, as who at this stage in life can afford $9,000 a year to just get the gear you need to live? I have written the government many times and as yet have no answers. 

Our system is flawed and I am certain my son is not the only diabetic in B.C. who does not have a family physician. He was considering moving to Alberta where all diabetes supplies are provided by the government while here our MLAs have just received a 25% increase in wages and my son is still struggling to make ends meet. Seems counterproductive not to pay for diabetic supplies as it will cost less in the long run as dialysis and blindness will end a young manB次元官网网址檚 working career, costing the government in taxes. 

Let's set the health system straight. Let's make pharmacare fair!

Lynda Slater

Sooke