Ontario Forced Switch Policy - Crohn’s and Colitis Canada

Don't gamble with my health.

What’s the problem?

There isn’t a “one-size-fits-all" approach when it comes to your health and well-being. For people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) it's especially difficult to find medication that works. So when you do, it’s life changing.

Now, thousands of people are being asked to change the medication that works best for them due to a planned “switch” by the government to something called a biosimilar.

Anyone with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis may eventually be prescribed a biologic. So this policy could affect you or your loved one today or in the future.

Want to help another way?

You can send a letter directly to your Ontario representative and let them know that you think patients should not be switched from their biologic to a biosimilar for non-medical reasons!

Send a Letter - Patients

Send a Letter - Concerned Public

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This doesn’t sound right. Tell me more.

A biosimilar is similar—but not identical to the innovator biologic drug. But that doesn’t mean our bodies react the same way to it.

While biosimilar medication is a safe and effective treatment, switching from the innovator biologic to its biosimilar may lead to disruptions and challenges for about 15% of people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—and that’s not a risk we want to take when it comes to our health.

In response to this planned switch, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada worked with gastroenterologists from across Canada and people with Crohn's and colitis to develop the Non-Medical Switch Decision Matrix. This matrix protects the high-risk groups and supports decreasing healthcare costs.

Forcing high-risk patients on successful treatment regimens to change their medication is a risk that our health system cannot afford. Even if you are not on a public plan or biologic, this is an issue that may affect you in the future.

You have the power to influence the decision makers. And it starts with convincing the Ontario government to adopt the Decision Matrix.

What are the risks?

Sometimes, people have adverse reactions to new medication. IBD patients are no exception.

1 in 2 people who have IBD experienced changes in their health after being switched from innovator biologics to their biosimilars.

Half of IBD patients experienced a disruption in their health after their critical medications were switched. Read the results of our survey here.