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Policy not only resulted in patient suffering but also did not save money as had been hoped
OTTAWA | A policy where patients with gastrointestinal problems would only be reimbursed for the cheapest proton pump inhibitors brought on suffering in First Nations and Inuit patients, researchers said here. The policy also did not save money.
"There were no cost savings in the first 15 months of this program," said Kathryn Gaebel, an author of the study and senior project manager of the Centre for Evaluation of Medicines in Hamilton.
Health Canada's NonInsured Health Benefits (NIHB) program introduced the policy in October 2005 as a cost-containment strategy. The NIHB serves approximately 760,000 First Nations and Inuit peoples across Canada.
As part of the policy, patients with gastrointestinal problems such as gastroesophogeal reflux disease are required to try at least 60 days of Apo-omeprazole and at least 60 days of Pariet (rabeprazole) before they can apply to be reimbursed for use of another proton pump inhibitor.
Neda Debassige-Toeg, president of the Aboriginal Pharmacists Association of Canada, said the policy did not include provisions...