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By ADAM BOWIE
bowie.adam@dailygleaner.com

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The feds need to chip in to improve access to drugs for those with a serious illness, says New Brunswick's health minister.

Four health charities met with Mike Murphy recently to urge him to introduce a catastrophic drug program for New Brunswick that would provide better coverage for people battling serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and arthritis.

Provincial chapters of the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Kidney Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Diabetes Association reminded Murphy that New Brunswick is one of only two provinces without a catastrophic drug program.

Murphy said he's hoping to change the way the drug program determines who's eligible for provincial coverage.

"This review will focus on providing drug coverage based on the ability to pay rather than on age or disease, which is now the case with the existing prescription drug program," he said.

"We will complete this review within the next year and we'll then know what is doable and at what cost."

Murphy said he met with health ministers from across the country two months ago and a big part of their discussion was devoted to the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy.

"All provinces and territories are of a common view that catastrophic drug coverage is as essential to Canadians as physician and hospital coverage, both of which are cost-shared by the federal government," he said.

"And we also believe that the federal government has a funding responsibility to establish a minimum standard of drug coverage for all Canadians. As minister, we know that Canadians expect the federal government to be a full-funding partner in advancing drug coverage."

Anne McTiernan-Gamble, executive director of the Canadian Cancer Society's New Brunswick chapter, said in a news release that many people have been ruined financially during battles with debilitating diseases.

"This is a very serious issue for many New Brunswick families living with the burden of numerous diseases, including cancer," she said.

"One in four New Brunswickers are not insured for the costs of prescription drugs. Many who are insured are challenged to pay the required co-pay of 20 to 30 per cent, and as a result families are forced to pay thousands of dollars per year for critical medications."

Murphy said he's asking the charities to join him in lobbying New Brunswick's members of Parliament to raise these concerns in Ottawa.