SHAMROCK, P.E.I. — Health P.E.I. has reversed its decision to deny covering the cost of a cancer drug that has been having a positive effect on an Island woman.
Lucy Morkunas, 59, of Shamrock has been taking an immunotherapy drug called nivolumab to treat collecting duct carcinoma – an aggressive form of renal carcinoma that presents at an advanced stage and has a poor prognosis.
Morkunas started taking the treatment after chemotherapy proved ineffective.
She was surprised to learn, first, that the drug would not be covered by her health insurance and, second, that the province would not foot the bill, despite the fact the drug is on the provincial formulary.
She paid for the drug, which costs $7,000 per dose, out of her own pocket. The drug has been working well, making her feel stronger and less tired. So, she decided to continue digging into her own finances to continue receiving the immunotherapy that may not only extend her life, but possibly save it.
Morkunas has been pushing Health P.E.I. to cover the cost. She took her story to The Guardian last week and has had Green party MLA Trish Altass pressure Health P.E.I. to come to her assistance.
Morkunas learned Friday the province has had a change of heart.
She says her situation was reassessed after her oncologist brought forth new information, and Health P.E.I. has decided to pay for her monthly treatments until the cancer goes into remission or the drug stops working.
The province has also agreed to reimburse Morkunas for the $24,500-worth of nivolumab that she has already received through intravenous treatment.
“I am excited, and I’m relieved and I’m overwhelmed,’’ she told The Guardian Friday.
Morkunas took her last dose of the drug on Tuesday. Her next dose is scheduled for Dec. 1, which, she notes, was going to be the last dose she planned to take if she was not able to get funding.
She is calling on the government to adopt a more compassionate approach when considering who receives drug coverage.
If an Islander is going to have a request for drug coverage rejected, it has to be a thoughtful decision, she says.
“It would be nice if these decisions were more transparent,’’ says Morkunas.
“I really don’t want anybody else to go through this (her difficult ordeal pushing for coverage). It is super stressful.’’
Jim Day is the health reporter for The Guardian
