According to CTV News, the Correctional Service of Canada has spent more than $2.1 million (Jan 2015-Aug 2018) to provide inmates with biologic drugs that some Canadians struggle to afford. Drugs such as Remicade, Humira and Embrel have revolutionized treatment for people with serious autoimmune disorders, including arthritis and psoriasis and disabling inflammatory bowel diseases Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Offenders in federal prisons – those serving sentences of two years or longer – are provided biologic drugs at no charge. The Correctional Services of Canada says it is mandated under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to provide every inmate with essential health care, including medication. While prisoners can get free drugs, some patients must fight with provincial health administrators for full coverage or partially fund their own medication.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/while-some-patients-pay-for-biologic-drugs-prison-inmates-get-them-for-free-1.4314381
So, what next? Feedback to the provincial and federal governments? Ensure these medications are fully covered by the province? By the benefits plans? No easy solution, but this does seem odd, that the federal government supports criminals with unlimited resources. They are human beings too, but is this the best use of your taxes and my taxes?
Feel free to send your comments to service@encompassbenefits.com and we will get some additional opinions / solutions to bring forward.
