A single drug can be approved for multiple conditions, but each new use requires its own clinical trials and regulatory approval, even if the drug is already approved for other indications, according to Suzanne Lepage, a private health plan strategist, during a session supported by Novo Nordisk at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Face to Face Drug […]
Although many medications may seem alike, in the management of chronic conditions, it’s crucial to have access to a broad selection of treatment options to achieve the most favourable outcomes for patients, since each medication can serve a distinct and important purpose for different individuals, according to Dr. Elizabeth Leroux, a faculty lecturer at McGill […]
Canada has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis in the world, with an estimated 90,000 to 100,000 people living with the disease. Every day, 12 Canadians are diagnosed, most between ages 20 and 49, striking individuals during their most productive working and family-building years. “MS is the No. 1 cause of non-traumatic disability in those […]
Health Canada recently approved the first disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, which is a long-awaited milestone that carries significant implications for private drug plans, employers and working Canadians. “Leqembi’s approval is a turning point after two decades of no new treatment options,” said Dr. Sarah Mitchell, cognitive neurologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and director […]
Since the only treatment for type one diabetes is insulin, there’s only one option for treating the condition, according to Andrew Muirhead (pictured right), territory manager at Insulet Corporation, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Healthy Outcomes Conference. Around 400,000 Canadians require insulin multiple times a day with type one diabetes cases growing about 4.4 per […]
Cancer rates among Canadian women age 50 and younger are twice as high as those of men in the same age group, according to a new report by Sun Life Financial Inc. The report analyzed health claims data from more than three million plan members and 20,000 employers. It found cancer continued to drive a […]
Global health insurance costs are expected to rise by an average of 10.3 per cent in 2026, according to a new report by WTW. It found Asia-Pacific is anticipating the steepest jump at 14 per cent, while Latin America is expecting a an increase of 11.9 per cent. The Middle East and Africa will see […]
Despite the World Health Organization declaring the coronavirus pandemic over in May 2023, the health crisis continues to shape workplaces around the globe. “Before the pandemic, workplaces were more structured and, if something occurred in an employee’s life that meant they couldn’t get into the office, they weren’t working,” says Erin Evans, a benefits and […]
The British Columbia government has proposed changes to the province’s Employment Standards Act to allow up to 27 weeks of unpaid leave each year for people facing a “catastrophic” illness or injury. Premier David Eby told a news conference in Victoria that the change would take effect this fall if the bill is passed by his New Democrat […]
As effective weight management drugs come to market, it’s time to move beyond outdated approaches to obesity care and towards holistic treatment strategies, said Marie-Hélène Dugal, national pharmacy strategy lead for Medavie Blue Cross, during Benefits Canada’s 2025 Toronto Benefits Summit. Obesity is a progressive, relapsing and complex chronic disease characterized by abnormal and excessive […]