09/28/2026
MYTH: Canadian children and teens have the same access to life-saving treatments as adults.
FACT: They don't, and it depends on where they live.
Compared to adults, fewer oncology therapies are approved for sale in Canada for a pediatric indication with provincial reimbursement to provide equitable access. National work by Sandra Judd, National Pediatric Oncology Drug Access Navigator (Canada), found that, across Canada, compassionate access from pharmaceutical companies covered 52% of pharmacy requests for innovative anticancer therapy, while public drug coverage covered just 27% and the remainder was paid for out-of-pocket or by private insurance. Regionally, patients in the western provinces accessed more drugs through public drug coverage, while Ontario families more often relied on case-by-case compassionate access.
When the evidence is strong, formulary listing should be fast. When it's still emerging, the answer is more trials, not a case-by-case scramble.
[Source C17]
Childhood Cancer Canada is proud to be the primary charitable funder of the C17 Council.🎗👩🏾‍🔬
Let's Face the Unimaginable, together. https://bit.ly/4zG6Nnw
