Ontario narrows out-of-country drug funding rules after cancer patient court victory

Ontario has tightened rules governing out-of-country drug funding following a court victory for a cancer patient. Alex Shved, a 37-year-old man with Stage 4 melanoma, challenged Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) rejections of his request for tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy in Florida. OHIP had denied his request, citing the therapy's pending public funding review in Ontario.

A Divisional Court ruled OHIP lacked justification for this stance, ordering a reassessment. However, OHIP has now rejected Shved's request for the third time. Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced the province would amend regulations to fund drugs out of country only if they are already covered within Ontario but access is delayed. The government is also exploring a resolution for Shved's specific case.