What is responsible stewardship?

By Letter to the Editor on October 27, 2017.

I am a retired anesthesiologist who lives in Calgary. I recently became aware, from reliable sources, that Sugammadex is not meaningfully available in Alberta and my sources have outlined a process for that decision which I find deeply disturbing.

Sugammadex is a novel drug that has generated a lot of controversy, principally because of cost. Alberta is the only province in Canada yet to approve the drug despite the efforts and recommendations of subject-matter-experts. Sugammadex is such a remarkable drug that it has been included, worldwide, in algorithms designed to save lives that require it be immediately available at the point-of-care.

Not having it available to Albertans while other Canadians have access is reminiscent of the evolution of a national strategy to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). The process by which the decision not to make Sugammadex available in Alberta has been secretive and seems autocratic to me, particularly in a patient-centred health-care system. I would like to see meaningful dialogue on this issue. The issues that surround this drug seem to me to provide strong arguments for a national drug plan.

Dr. Scott Allan Lang

Calgary

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