Dear Editor:

Recent changes to the
pharmacare benefit list have
created confusion and anxiety
for many prostate cancer
patients who are not aw
the fact that as of May 1,
1998, Zoladex and Zoladex
LA (drugs used primarily, but
not exclusively, for prostate
cancer) have been reclassified
and) removed from the
Pharmacarz benefit list and are
new available only under
“Special Authority,” or from
the B.C. Cancer Agency.

These drugs will wail-
able and will be covered for
prostate cancer.

The problem is not with
the reclassificavon, but with
the fact that no one, doctors
and patients alike, were
intormed of this move.

As a consequence, a large
number of patients already
under stress and undergoing
treatment with these drugs,
are unwittingly going to the
pharmacy to pick up their pre-
scriptions and being told that
the drug is no longer a
Pharmacare benefit and that

Bikeway i

Dear Editor:

Re: Low Level road bike-
way.

The Vancouver — Area
Cycling Coalition (VACC)
congratulates North
Vancouver City on its plan to
address immediate concerns of
cyclists by improving the Low
Level road with bike lanes.

The Low Level road is a
popular ang important link for
the North Shore cycle net-
work.

It is a direct route with very
little elevation gain that con-
nects the Iron Workers
Memorial (Second Narrows)
Bridge and Lonsdale Quay
areas. Current conditions for
cyclists on this road are dan-
gerous.

This is a truck route with
sub 3.3 metre-wide lanes and a
60 km/h speed limit. Yet
despite this it is still frequently
used,

Popularity of this route
suggests improvements should
be made quickly, preferably in
one phase, to avoid putting
cyclists at risk when they must
re-enter the roadway halfway
along.

Proposed bike lane widths
are 1.2 metres south side and
1.5 metres north side, with the
north side lane including exist-
ing hydro poles in their width.

S While this is a substantial
improvement over current
conditions, we hope an eye is
kept to the future when a
chance arises to finish the road
to the recognized standard by
removing hydro poles along
the north side.

As part of this project, con-
sideration should be given to
improving the Low Level
Road/3rd Street/Cotton
Drive intersection. rrently
westbound cyclists have a
complicated merge across a
travel lane there.

Recommendations are for a
refuge island/median to help
delineate travel lanes or a
pedestrian crossing signal.

Improvements to the Low
Level road are welcomed by
‘The VACC. By addressing key
sections like this one, you are

“special authority” is: needed
and must be appiied for.

The cost of this drug with:
out special authority would be
about $400 for one monthly
treatment, or $2,100 to
$1,200 for a three-month
treatment. This is very tright-
ening for somcone on a fived
income who would never be
able to afford this medication.

e alternative must be
ifving. There are a few
patients have
! id tor their prescrip-
tion, because they were under
the impression that it had been
removed completely trom the
benefit list, and they had no
alternative.

Of note here, is the fact
that this special authority is
not retroac For the next
cwo weeks, it is possible for the
doctor to phone Pharmacare
and get approv) usually with-
in 24 to 48 hours.

After that, it will take up to
two weeks for special authority

newly diagnosed
patients, it means waiting two
weeks for authority to be

making cycling for transporta-
tion more viable and popular.
Ifyou need clarification cn any
of the items I have raised on
behalf of the VACC, feel free

NORTH VANCOUVER

rth shore news

MAIL Box
Pharmacare changes eroding health care

approved so they can. start
their t ~ Unless of
course, you are lucky enough
to be able to atford the full
cost. In that case, you can start
right away.

Where is the rationale h
Is Pharmacare punishing peo-
ple tor their unfortunate situa-
ton? Or are they in their wis-
dom wying to save moncy
again? Certainly, no adminis-
trative custs are being saved.

The paperwork, phone
calls and forms to be filled in
and faxed will eat up any sav-
ings to the system.

The real cost here is to the
patients who suffer the a
and delay in starting or main-
taining treatment and who
deserve better.

In a May 2, 1998, letter
from the Ministry of Health
and Ministry Responsible for
Seniors in referring to the
removal of head lice medica-
tion, laxatives for seniors and
Proscar from the full benefit

fist, there was no mention of

Zoladex.
But there was something
worth mentioning here:

to contact me at the address
listed below.

Mark DalSanto, Director
Vancouver Area Cycling
Coalition

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987-Play(7529)

“The above changes in,
benefits are part
Pharmazares ongoing 1
to improve the health status of
Bri Columbians by ensur-
ing reasonable access to and
ppropriate use of prescription

cn

fs this a joke?

Are doctors prescribing
these medications inappropn-
ately to patients who don’t
need them?

Or have the administrators
of our health care system
decided that they can be doc-
tors too. P -rsonally, PH put my
trust in my own doctor.

How can a government
claim to be on a “mission to
improve the health status of
British Columbia while
restricting access to the very
drug that may contribute to
the well-being and health of
these same British
Columbians?

What happened to the
humanitarian approach to
medicine? When did the med-
ical system become a form of
corporate giant concerned
only with saving money at the

1063 Adderley Street
North Vancouver. B.C.
V7L 1T4

Wednesday, July 29, 1998 - North Shore News —- 9

code on the prescription to
readily identify it as being pre-
scribed for that purpose?

This crosion of our health
care system must stop!
Bonnie Leyshon
North Vancouver

expense of the people it claims
to protect, and who inciden-
tally, pay for this “protection?”

There must be a better way
to monitor this drug. If it is to
be used for prostate cancer
only, why not put the ICD9

VyHiset

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