The insurance provider had told patients last month its specialty drug program would transition to being carried out "primarily" through
"We have listened to and are addressing the concerns we have heard over the past week," said
“Though this change impacts only a small number of our members, it helps ensure that all Canadians we support have choice, access, and flexibility in managing their health. We are proud to partner with thousands of pharmacies across the country and contribute to a strong and healthy Canadian healthcare system.”
Manulife's specialty drug program affects around 260 medications meant to treat complex, chronic or life-threatening conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s, multiple sclerosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, cancer, osteoporosis and hepatitis C.
Patients covered under the program represent less than one per cent of all those insured through Manulife, the company said, adding that "across the rest of our business, we have always offered Canadians the option to choose their pharmacy."
Deals that provide exclusivity for a particular pharmacy to distribute drugs under an insurance plan are known as preferred pharmacy network arrangements. Researchers have said those arrangements are common in the
Manulife had previously said the shift to an exclusive agreement would give patients "more options" to receive their specialty medications, with patients able to pick up drugs from a Loblaw-owned pharmacy or have them delivered to their home.
Loblaw spokeswoman
"As we’ve said all along, our goal is to ensure patients have convenient access to care, and we believe strongly in choice," she said.
Some had expressed worry that specialty drugs could become less accessible to those in rural or remote regions who don't live near a
Marc-André Gagnon, a professor at
"Normally, this kind of stuff is always under the radar and basically nobody's asking questions about this," he said.
"I'm not surprised that with media coverage, the insurance company changed its decision because they were looking very bad in doing something like this."
In an update posted to its website, Manulife said it's implementing the change "swiftly."
Gagnon said that although Manulife reversed course, the issue isn't going away. He noted
"It's not a one-time event, bad decision by a private drug plan," he said.
"You have structural issues and private drug plans will try to solve these structural issues in a way that will be satisfying for their shareholders to the expense of insurees."
Industry Minister
“I am glad to see that Manulife listened to Canadians’ concerns," he said in a statement on Monday.
"This is a step in the right direction.”
NDP MPs
This report by The Canadian Press was first published
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