As N.W.T. mulls health coverage changes, petition calls for preventative HIV drug to be free
CBC
A Yellowknife resident is calling on the Northwest Territories government to offer an HIV preventative drug at no cost to residents without health insurance.
William Gagnon said HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily pill taken by those at high risk of contracting HIV, isn't covered by the N.W.T. government for those without health insurance.
Meaning residents in need would have to pay out of pocket.
"If you don't [have insurance] then it could be a big financial barrier," Gagnon told CBC News.
"So I just think it should be universal coverage."
The drug is found be effective at preventing HIV when taken as prescribed and is covered for residents in several other jurisdictions including the Yukon, Manitoba, B.C., Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Jeremy Bird, a spokesperson for the Health Department, said in an email the current policy doesn't offer the drug because the N.W.T.'s Specified Disease Conditions Extended Health Benefits program coverage requires a diagnosis of a specified condition. He said it costs around $1,000 a month for those not covered to pay for it.
However, most employer insurance plans cover PrEP, as well as non-insured health benefits programs for First Nations, Inuit and Métis.
Gagnon started a petition that encourages residents to fill out a feedback form the territorial government is collecting on proposed changes to the extended health benefits policy.
The territory is extending coverage for those who don't have health insurance and make under a certain amount annually.
The changes would make PrEP free for those who fit into that category.
The feedback form said the N.W.T. hasn't updated its health benefits policy in 34 years and is doing so to ensure it meets the objectives of fairness and equity.
Chelsea Thacker, the executive director of the Northern Mosaic Network, said it's good the N.W.T. is taking feedback, but that PrEP should have been offered to residents long before this.
"We shouldn't even be debating preventative health care measures and the access to it," they said.
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