Canada invests $430M into B.C. for aged-care workers and drugs for rare diseases

B.C. is receiving a boost to its health-care system, as the federal government announced nearly $430 million is being invested to support aged care and those with rare diseases.

Federal Minister of Health Mark Holland and B.C.’s Minister of Health Adrian Dix announced the funding Tuesday, explaining that the investment is part of two “bilateral agreements.”

The first is through the Aging with Dignity Agreement, which will see more than $232 million go toward supporting Personal Support Workers and Health Care Assistants.

“[It will be] invested over the next five years to help BC support compensation for nearly 13,000 HCA full-time equivalents working in publicly-funded long-term care and assisted living facilities,” the governments said in a joint release.

“HCAs have long provided essential supports for Canadians to live and age with dignity. This was especially demonstrated through their dedication working on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this partnership, BC will be able to improve recruitment and retention, by ensuring these workers have better wages and benefits,” they added.

The other $194 million will go toward improving support for rare diseases, the governments explained. This includes procuring two drugs, Poteligeo and Oxlumo.

Poteligeo is used to treat mycosis fungoids, otherwise known as Alibert-Bazin syndrome or Sezary syndrome, a disease which a type of white blood cell becomes cancerous and affects the skin. Oxlumo is used in the treatment of hyperoxaluria type 1, a disease that affects the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract.

“In Canada, 1 in 12 people live with a rare disease. While there are thousands of rare diseases, unfortunately treatments are only available for a small percentage of these conditions. And, for most people suffering, the cost of these treatments puts them out of reach,” the statement said.

“Through these bilateral agreements we are raising the standard for wages and benefits for our health care assistants as they continue to provide vital care for seniors and making expensive medications more accessible for people with rare diseases. This is about investing in people and building a stronger, more equitable health-care system that works for everyone, patients and providers alike,” Dix explained.