It’s a long-time coming for Cystic Fibrosis patients in Nova Scotia.
As of today, the province is fully covering the cost of the Trikafta drug, about $300,000 per year for each patient.
Tim Vallillee, who resides in Halifax is one of the oldest C.F. patients in the province.
He says it’s a bittersweet day.
“I’m going to be a recipient of this medication too, and I’m so excited to see what it’s going to do for me. At the same time, we’ve lost so many to C.F. It’s almost like not every candle gets blown out on the cake,” says Vallillee.
Vallillee says he’ll be 54 in January, and the Trikafta drug will improve his breathing.
But he says he’s most excited for young C.F. patients.
“Knowing that they will never have to suffer the lung damage of having Cystic Fibrosis over a life-time, and to know that they’ll be able to live a pretty normal life with this medication, is really really exciting.”
Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson says providing access to the game-changing drug as soon as possible and at no cost to the patient was government’s goal.
Vallillee gives a big thanks to the previous Minister, Zach Churchill, who fought for the arrival of Trikafta in Nova Scotia.
