Hepatitis C drug one of 54 new medications covered by Manitoba pharmacare

(Photo from Wikimedia Commons/Ragesoss)

WINNIPEG – Drugs to treat hepatitis C, epilepsy and diabetes are among 54 medications newly covered under Manitoba’s pharmacare program

Pharmacare is a universal prescription drug benefit plan that covers the costs of eligible drugs up to 100 per cent, depending on family income.

Two dozen of the 54 drugs added recently are generic medications.

Coverage for the new drugs came into effect on July 22.

Health Minister Sharon Blady said in an email statement that the Manitoba government has added about 4,500 drugs to pharmacare in the last 16 years.

Other drugs now on the formulary are used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, HIV and as contraception.