Ontario’s ombudsman is launching an investigation into the province’s funding of the chemotherapy drug Avastin to determine whether it makes sense to cap support for patients suffering from cancer.
The probe will review the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s policies for the drug, which is prescribed to colon cancer patients with funding limited to 16 two-week cycles — regardless of patient response to the treatment.
The investigation was prompted by complaints from patients, as well as a letter from Progressive Conservative Joyce Savoline, that the “16-cycle limit appears arbitrary.”
