Canada Blocks Lung Infection Drug from Dying Patients

A system to emulate!

Two lung disease specialists are accusing Health Canada of shortening some patients' lives, by denying them access to an inexpensive, relatively harmless drug not sold in Canada.

"I am appalled and angry that a federal agency that we fund through our taxes would deny Canadian citizens who are dying of a treatable, infectious disease potentially life-saving medication," said Dr. David Forrest, of Nanaimo, B.C.

In previous years, Health Canada granted several patients special access to the drug, called clofazimine. The doctors said that approach has suddenly changed, for no good reason.

"We had a process in place that was working, for 20 years or so, and now all of a sudden we're running up against a brick wall," said Dr. Stephen Field, from Calgary.

(Hat tip to Reason commenter RTS)