We are very pleased that the Ontario Government has committed to providing free prescription drugs for youth under the age of 25 as of January 2018. The announcement contained in the April 2017 Ontario Budget will greatly benefit many individuals and families who have children with food allergies, and who might not be able to afford an epinephrine auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen®).
Food allergies are a growing public health concern affecting more than 2.5 million Canadians, including more than 950,000 Ontarians. (Thousands more are at risk with allergies to stinging insects, drugs, and latex.) Given that even a small amount of an allergen, if ingested, could cause a serious allergic reaction and be potentially life-threatening, access to epinephrine is essential. In the event of a reaction, research has shown that early administration of this medication can reduce the severity of symptoms and improve an individual’s outcome. Quick access and prompt administration of epinephrine may mean the difference between life and death.
Canadians at risk of an anaphylactic reaction should carry an epinephrine auto-injector with them at all times, in case of an emergency. We believe strongly that everyone who requires this potentially life-saving medication should have it, regardless of price or ability to pay. While we are fortunate to live in a country with a strong public health care system, we recognize that there are Canadians who are not covered by a private or public drug plan and may not be able to afford an auto-injector. For those who are covered by a drug plan, issues of deductible costs or annual limits on epinephrine auto-injectors may also cause financial challenges.
We appreciate the progress the provincial government is making in extending the availability of this and other medications to young Ontarians and welcome the recent public policy discussion on access to prescription drugs. We hope this action leads to greater access for epinephrine for all Ontarians regardless of age, and eventually, for equal access for all Canadians.