Staff
Yesterday (March 4), local MPP Bill Walker stood up for patients when he called on the provincial government to deliver affordable access to life-saving drugs to people suffering from IPF, a rare and fatal lung disease.
During his statement to the legislature, Walker – who previously served as a deputy health critic at Queen’s Park – also commemorated two local constituents who died following a gruesome bout with IPF, better known as Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. The men died in the midst of their fight with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for affordable access to the life-saving drug Esbriet.
“Clearly, this government and this ministry failed them,” said Walker, following his statement at Queen’s Park. “What Ontarians expect is for this government to take action and to advocate for them by negotiating affordable access to life-saving drugs like Esbriet. The government has the power to make this happen.”
Walker and his PC colleagues are also pushing the government to cover the cost of drug treatments for 12-year-old Madi Vanstone who is battling a rare form of cystic fibrosis. Earlier, they were pleading with the government for OHIP coverage of the drug Avastin for a Milton mother, Kimm Fletcher, who is fighting glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer.
