Thank you, Chair, and thank you very much to our witnesses for being here today. I think it's very courageous that you're here, but also very important, because we have heard—Canadians have heard—so publicly and so insistently how this transition has not been ideal and how it has caused suffering for many public servants who have served Canada, as well as for their families. I'd like to mention a couple of stories in the media.
Kari Hentzelt, who suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, says in an article published by the CBC that without specific medication, she can suffer up to 20 migraines a month:
I am a chronically ill public servant in the midst of medical retirement. Every month I rely on medications for cardiac, neurological, musculoskeletal and pain reasons. Along with my husband's PSHCP and my own, we *were* adequately covered under Sun Life.
Since July 1, however, it has been nothing short of a nightmare.
I've been able to get through to a representative ONCE since July 1, after being on hold for ages.
I'm now almost two weeks late on my Emgality injection for migraines because they state that BC PharmaCare now covers it. I've talked to PharmaCare and they state my insurance should continue to cover it until my deductible is met.
Both myself and the drug company have sent them the special authority letter, as well as my pharmacy, but they still continue to deny this treatment to me.
Without it, I have approximately 15 to 20 migraines per month.
We are definitely not getting what we are paying for, and it's unacceptable.
The article continues:
Adam Shales spoke...about his nine-year-old son who relies on weekly intensive physiotherapy to counteract the debilitating nature of cerebral palsy.
Under the terms of the PSHCP, the family was covered at 80 per cent for claims up to $500 and claims over $1,000.
As of July 1, it's capped at $1,500 annually.
“It's a major source of stress”....
“We don't have pots of money sitting around. So it's either we have to borrow for that or we have to reduce the amount of physio..., which then will have consequences and impacts on his body, his muscles, his range of motion and ultimately his quality of life.”
We are hearing first-hand from public servants about how this is affecting them and their families, and of course we want to care for Canadians.
Why was it reported by Minister Anand at the beginning of November that there was only one bidder for the contract, despite the involvement of three competitive bidders in the process being confirmed here today?
That's for whoever would like to take it, please.