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Barb- That is really obscene. While these drugs do not work miracles they are an advance over the previously available agonists- enough so that they clearly belong in the formulary. To deny payment and therefore for many patients access to them is tying one (tremulous) hand behind your backs. This is clearly an economic rather than a medical decision. For so many of you not paying for the drugs means no drug since they can cost hundreds of dollars per month. It is not legitimate to keep medications off a formulary unless there is an acceptable substitute authorized. Clearly practicing Movement disorder specialists were not consulted in the decision. The decision-makers need to be "educated". They probably need to be dealt with politically (which the PFC is doing with their press release). Maybe contacting the International Movement Disorders Society and asking them to make a statement might help. Is there anything we non-Ontarioites can do? Charlie Barbara Patterson wrote: > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 14:10:55 -0500 > From: [log in to unmask] > > > Attention News/Health Editors: > > > > Parkinson's Sufferers Denied Access To Promising New Treatment Options > > > > Ontario Government's Efforts Deemed ``Unacceptable'' by > > Parkinson Foundation of Canada > > > > TORONTO, Feb. 16 /CNW/ - Despite federal approval of two new and > > effective Parkinson's drugs specifically Pramipexole and Ropinirole that > > were approved in January 1998 and August 1997 respectively, Ontario, > > unlike other provinces, has not provided government coverage for the > > treatments. The Parkinson Foundation of Canada is calling on the Ontario > > government to list new treatments on the provincial formulary. Without > > registration on the provincial formulary, the drugs are unavailable to > > Ontario Parkinson's sufferers who rely on the provincial drug plan. > > > > ``Through their non-action, the government of Ontario is neglecting > > the needs of people living with Parkinson's disease,'' said Blaire > > McRobie, President and CEO of The Parkinson Foundation of Canada. > > ``Treatment advancements for Parkinson's are rare, making it even more > > important to ensure that each Ontario resident - not just those who can > > afford it - has access to the newest, most effective medications > > available,'' he added. > > > > Parkinson's disease is a chronic debilitating neuromuscular disease > > that undermines a person's ability to control their movements. Parkinson's > > affects more than 100,000 Canadians - a figure that is expected to rise by > > at least 30 per cent in the next 20 years. It is estimated that one out of > > every 250 people over the age of 40 is affected by the condition. This > > figure increases to approximately one person in 100 among those over the > > age of 65. > > > > The two new Parkinson's treatments, Pramipexole and Ropinirole, have > > been proven to be effective in both the early and late stages of the > > condition's progression. The prospect of trying these new therapies has > > raised hopes for many people in Ontario with Parkinson's, as well as their > > families and caregivers. > > > > The Parkinson Foundation of Canada is dedicated to funding research > > and providing support services for people living with Parkinson's and > > their families. Founded in 1965, the Foundation has more than 100 chapters > > and support groups across Canada and has committed in the past five years > > more than $6.5 million to 125 scientists working on the Parkinson's > > puzzle. The Foundation also supports 10 Movement Disorder Clinics and four > > Community Outreach programs. > > > > -30- > > > > For further information: Patrick Ussher, The Parkinson Foundation of > > Canada, (416) 366-0099 or Jane McCoubrey, NATIONAL PharmaCom, (416) > > 586-0180 -- ****************************************************************************************** Charles T. Meyer, M.D. Middleton (Madison), Wisconsin [log in to unmask] ******************************************************************************************