(Queen’s Park) – Elizabeth Witmer, the Progressive Conservative MPP for Kitchener-Waterloo, is calling for provincial bridge funding for an enzyme replacement therapy, called Myozyme, for Greg Troy until a national orphan drug policy is put in place.
Witmer asked the question on behalf of Greg Troy, a resident from Waterloo, after a request for bridge funding for Mr. Troy by Dr. Venance, the lead neurologist at the London University Hospital, was rejected by the Ministry of Health.
As Mr. Tory’s symptoms are getting progressively worse and his family worries about his deteriorating condition, Witmer urged the Minister of Health to provide bridge funding for this drug on compassionate grounds until a national orphan drug policy is put in place.
“I am disappointed that the Minister of Health has now twice rejected requests for funding for the drug to treat Mr. Troy’s often fatal disease. Despite a promise in April 2006, in a new drug reform package to give better access to drugs and quicker appeal, this government has failed to do so,” said Witmer.
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For further information contact:
Elizabeth Witmer, MPP