Agreement will improve access to, and affordability of, drugs for rare diseases

March 13, 2025 | Yellowknife, Northwest Territories | Health Canada

In Canada, 1 in 12 people live with a rare disease, and for most people affected, the cost of treatment is unaffordable. Canadians deserve a health care system that provides timely access to quality health services and medications, including effective drugs for rare diseases, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay.

Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Canada’s Minister of Health, and the Honourable Lesa Semmler, Northwest Territories’ Minister of Health and Social Services, announced a bilateral agreement investing over $7.8 million to improve access to selected new drugs for rare diseases, and to support enhanced access to existing drugs, early diagnosis, and screening.

The first step in this bilateral agreement will be to deliver funding to the territory to provide access to Poteligeo, for the treatment of mycosis fungoides or Sézary syndrome, under the National Strategy for Rare Diseases.

The names of other drugs on the common list is published online on a drug-by-drug basis following the conclusion of the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance price negotiations for each drug. In addition, the Northwest Territories is committing through this agreement to work with Canada and other provinces and territories on developing and implementing a plan for improving screening and diagnostics for rare diseases.

The Government of Canada remains committed to working with provinces and territories to improve health care for all Canadians, including access to affordable prescription medications, and to achieving better health outcomes for everyone.