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‘David and Goliath Battle’: Family of Charleigh Pollock Celebrates Continued Treatment
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, JUL 3 – Elizabeth May urges B.C. to restore funding for Brineura, a drug costing about $1 million annually that slows progression of a fatal neurological disease, citing urgent patient need and broader pharmacare issues.
- On July 3, 2025, Elizabeth May sent a letter to Health Minister Josie Osborne urging restoration of Brineura funding.
- In June, a Canada Drug Agency panel determined Charleigh had passed the point where Brineura would continue to help, leading to funding ending on June 18, 2025.
- After six years of treatment, Pollock’s last infusion was June 19, with the next scheduled for July 3, costing roughly $800,000 annually, and her family argues she still benefits.
- Elizabeth May calls for price and bulk purchasing, noting Canada remains the only country with universal public health care lacking full prescription coverage.
- On Friday, July 4, 2025, Health Minister Josie Osborne will meet Charleigh’s family, with funding discussions ongoing.
17 Articles
17 Articles
B.C. reverses decision, will resume payments for Langford girl's drug
B.C. has reversed its decision to cut off drug coverage for a 10-year-old Langford girl with a rare terminal disease. On Thursday evening, Health Minister Josie Osborne contacted the family of Charleigh Pollock to say the province will restore the funding. Charleigh has taken the drug Brineura since...
LETTER: Calling on BC government to fund 9-year-old's medication for rare disease
On Thursday July 3 2025, Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich–Gulf Islands and Leader of the Green Party of Canada, sent a letter to British Columbia’s Minister of Health, the Hon. Josie Osborne, urging the provincial government to fund 9-year-old Charleigh Pollock’s Brineura medication to treat her rare disease. Read the pdf of the letter here The Honourable Josie Osborne Minister of Health Province of British Columbia July 3, 2025 Re: A Plea for Univ…
Saanich-Gulf Islands MP calls on B.C. to fund 9-year-old’s medication
Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May is calling on the B.C. government to restart funding for a nine-year-old Langford girl’s rare and expensive medication. Charleigh Pollock has a rare and terminal neurological disorder called Batten Disease and had been receiving a drug called Brineura, which stabilizes her condition, for the past five years at a price tag of roughly $800,000 annually. In June, the province announced it would stop funding the…
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