We live in Canada,
In Canada, we have the luxury of having a benefits and health system in our darkest hour, or do we?
I write this letter on behalf of my friend who is suffering from an illness I have just recently become familiar with.
It’s an illness she has dealt with from childhood, and an illness that will eventually win the battle.
There is hope, though. Recently new drugs have been developed in the treatment of cystic fibrosis and my friend, a wife and mother of two, has greatly improved her quality of life over the past year.
Her family has embraced a mother who can go outside, play with her children and enjoy all the things we take for granted.
Life before this drug was completely different. It involved horrible coughing fits, pain, and suffering beyond what people who have good health cannot even imagine. Melissa’s family just about lost her do to this disease two years ago and she miraculously fought her way back.
This past month, Melissa’s husband’s benefits insurance company, approached his place of work stating they have a way of reducing their premiums that will not impact the employees, and mostly it did not. Except the funding for this new, quite costly, drug that has greatly improved Melissa’s life.
She has approached the drug company and yes, even our government, because after all, we live in Canada, where its citizens enjoy a health system where such things do not happen, except, that this cannot be more untrue.
The cost cutting proved to be more important than quality of life, our health system even stating it is cheaper for Melissa to be in the hospital rather than to be medicated and have her life with her family.
I’m not sure who is more to blame personally — the insurance company, who researched and was willing to sacrifice this family to save money, the drug company who prices their product with goals of outrageous profit margins, or finally our Canadian government, which is very aware of the previous facts, but not only does nothing to prevent it, but makes excuses.
It appears more than willing to sacrifice us for cheaper alternatives and refuses to intervene when drug companies impact the people who need their product the most.
But we live in Canada where, if you’re healthy and do not require assistance, these things do not happen.
Shane Holmgren
Vernon