IBD doesn’t wait. Why should I?
IBD doesn't wait. Why should I?
Share your story
For many people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), accessing the treatment their healthcare provider recommends is not always easy. People may be required to try and fail one or more lower-cost medications before another treatment option is covered, even when the first option may be the more effective treatment for that individual.
We are calling on Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA) to recommend that provincial and territorial public drug plans end fail-first policies for IBD.
Your voice can help show decision makers what treatment delays mean in real life. Share your story and ask the CDA and your government to put patients at the centre of Crohn’s and colitis care.
Crohn’s and colitis are already unpredictable, and delays in accessing the right medication can mean more time living with urgent and painful symptoms, disruptions to school, work, family life, and mental well-being, and a higher risk of complications. Delays in accessing the right medication can also lead to avoidable hospitalizations, procedures, and surgery.
Treatment options should be guided by patients and their healthcare providers, not governments. Help show decision makers how treatment decisions have affected your life by sharing your story.
*Please note that a member of the Crohn’s and Colitis Canada team will review each story before it’s posted. You may submit your story anonymously, and we will never share your email address. A member of our team may contact you if we have questions about your submission.
If you or someone you love lives with Crohn’s or colitis and has been affected by fail-first policies, use our toolkit to raise awareness, share your story, and urge the CDA to recommend that governments prioritize patient care over costs.
The toolkit includes:
Download the toolkit