GI Society says B.C. slow to green-light newer IBD drugs; province cites evidence-based coverage

Another health group is calling out the British Columbia government for being slow to green-light medications that are approved elsewhere in Canada. The Canadian Gastrointestinal Society says patients with inflammatory bowel disease are often made to try older, less effective drugs before they can access newer treatments.

The group argues that this approach “I guess the government calls it cost savings because they don’t want to pay the big price of these advanced therapies that are more expensive,” said Gail Attara, CEO of the Canadian Gastrointestinal Society.

“But the reality is the longer you wait to treat someone, the worse their disease becomes.” The society claims that in many cases a doctor will prescribe an older medication and tell the patient to throw it out — sometimes multiple times — simply to meet requirements before moving to the drug they actually need.

According to the group, the older medications can do more harm than good for some patients. B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne said the province’s decisions are grounded in data. “Here in B.C., we have one of the most robust pharmacare programs covering a wide range of different pharmaceuticals to help British Columbians,” she said.

“We are always looking at the evidence; we work closely, of course, with the federal government on that.” The exchange underscores a broader debate over how quickly B.C. should fund newer therapies that are already available in other provinces, balancing timely access for patients with the costs of advanced treatments.