Download contacting - Ontario Lung Association

Document 2 - DRAFT CONSTITUENT LETTER TO MPP - ON
Your Name & Address
Date
Your MPP’s Name & Address
Dear (fill in their surname of MPP - i.e. Dear Mr. Jones),
I am writing as a constituent of yours and as someone touched by a rare, progressive and fatal lung
disease. I would like to meet with you to discuss access to an important new medication called ESBRIET
(pirfenidone), approved by Health Canada in October 2012 for the treatment of people with mild to
moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
INSERT A BRIEF PARAGRAPH OUTLINING YOUR PERSONAL STORY AND THE LINK YOU HAVE
TO A PERSON WITH IPF.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by scarring of the lungs, which hinders a patient’s ability to
breathe. It is suggested that up to 30,000 Canadians are believed to be affected by all forms of
pulmonary fibrosis, with an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 suffering from mild to moderate IPF. Idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis has no known cause and is typically diagnosed later in life. With a life expectancy of
just two to five years, IPF is similar to many other malignant diseases, including lung, breast and colon
cancer. However, some rapidly progressing cases can be lethal within months of diagnosis.
Until recently, Canadians diagnosed with this devastating disease had no proven treatment options
available to help them. ESBRIET is the first and only approved medicine in Canada for the treatment of
IPF. It has been shown to slow disease progression and to decrease the decline in lung function in adult
patients with mild to moderate IPF.
Unfortunately, ESBRIET is not yet funded by the public drug plan in Ontario. Patients can only access
the treatment through private drug coverage or personal financial means. This is especially devastating
for seniors living with IPF who no longer have private coverage, live on a fixed income and rely
exclusively on the provincial drug program.
I am asking for the opportunity to meet with you for 30 minutes to discuss the need to
immediately provide ESBRIET as a choice for people with mild to moderate IPF and their health
care providers in Ontario through public funding.
I will follow up with your office soon to schedule a mutually convenient time to meet. Thank you for your
consideration and your ongoing commitment to people living with IPF, their families and loved ones.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Document 5 - DRAFT MPP LETTER TO MINISTER OF HEALTH - ON
Date
Hon. Deborah Matthews
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
10th Floor, Hepburn Block
80 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, ON M7A 2C4
Dear Minister,
I am writing on behalf of a constituent who recently visited me to discuss ESBRIET (pirfenidone), a Health
Canada approved treatment for individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). It is the first and only
approved medicine in Canada for the treatment of this rare, progressive and fatal lung disease.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by scarring of the lungs, which hinders a patient’s ability to
breathe. It is suggested that up to 30,000 Canadians are believed to be affected by all forms of
pulmonary fibrosis, with an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 suffering from mild to moderate IPF. Idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis has no known cause and is typically diagnosed later in life. With a life expectancy of
just two to five years, IPF is similar to many other malignant diseases, including lung, breast and colon
cancer. However, some rapidly progressing cases can be lethal within months of diagnosis.
Until recently, Canadians diagnosed with this devastating disease had no proven treatment options
available to help them. ESBRIET was approved by Health Canada in October 2012 and has been shown
to slow disease progression and to decrease the decline in lung function in adult patients with mild to
moderate IPF.
Unfortunately, ESBRIET is not yet funded by the public drug plan in Ontario. Patients can only access
the treatment through private drug coverage or personal financial means. This is especially devastating
for seniors living with IPF who no longer have private coverage, live on a fixed income and rely
exclusively on the provincial drug program.
That is why I am asking that you immediately provide ESBRIET as a choice for people with mild to
moderate IPF and to enable their health care providers in Ontario to more effectively manage this
fatal lung disease.
Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
MPP
cc.
Your Name & Address