MPP Bill Walker is supporting a motion that the Legislature adopt a health care policy to help residents with exceptional health care needs.
The proposed compassionate and catastrophic health plan would help people who are currently forced to sell everything and beg for their lives.
Walker says the policy would help people pay for life saving or life extending treatment not currently covered. He says many Ontarians are fighting the battle to access treatments, therapies and drugs for Multiple Sclerosis, Cystic Fibrosis, or other rare diseases.
“Is this government really so blind to the suffering of these patients?” MPP Walker asked during debate.
“Consider the predicament of two-year-old Lena Klein from Elmwood who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just two days old...Her parents are holding fundraisers to help cover the cost of inCourage, an airway clearance therapy vest. The vest will help break apart mucus in Lena’s lungs, help her breathe easier…and give her freedom to move and play while getting some very important life-changing therapy. The cost of one of these vests is $1,500 American dollars,” he says.
“How many of you here had to do this, to fundraise or beg for money to save your child’s life?” he says. “We can stand here and laud the fact that we have marked the 50th anniversary of the newborn screening program... That’s great, but the government’s job doesn’t stop after the diagnosis. So let’s not rest on our laurels. Let’s keep improving the system so that all patients can have access to the medical treatment they need and that we’re obligated to provide here in Ontario.”
Nepean-Carleton MPP MacLeod’s motion was supported by Rare Disease advocate Karolena Dempsey and representatives from CORD, the Canadian Cancer Survivors Network, Durhane Wong-Rieger, president and CEO of Canadian Organization for Rare Diseases, and Police Pensioners Association.