The province’s health minister says Islanders can expect an announcement related to health coverage of ostomy supplies as early as the end of this month.
But Robert Mitchell stopped short of saying whether this announcement would involve full coverage of supplies for the estimated 585 Islanders currently living with an ostomy.
“We’ve begun the process of looking at other jurisdictions, to what they do for coverage,” Mitchell said in an interview.
“We could be there by the end of this month – October, maybe early November.”
Mitchell said he had met with members of the P.E.I. Peer Support Group of the Ostomy Society of Canada in June and said new funding programs required that appropriate processes were in place.
“We’re fairly well along in the process,” Mitchell said.
According to Christine MacCallum, facilitator of the P.E.I. Peer Support Group, Islanders who have lived through an ostomy surgery, which treats illnesses of the digestive system by rerouting stool or urine to a pouch, can sometimes pay between $300 and $500 per month for supplies.
The ostomy supplies include a flange and bags that collect the waste, as well as other accessories.
MacCallum, who is a lead organizer of the upcoming Stoma Stroll at UPEI on Saturday morning, said she still receives phone calls from Islanders living with the illness who have trouble affording the supplies.
She said the group has not heard an update from Mitchell since meeting with him in June. She said Mitchell had initially planned to attend the Stoma Stroll, but had since cancelled due to a family engagement.
“We were hoping to hear something in October. There hasn't been any contact with us so far,” MacCallum said.
“There's a lot of people counting on this to happen. It just can't be put off any more. People's lives are in danger.”
Rose-Marie Brennan, a 75-year old resident of Tignish, has been living with an ostomy for four years since she had emergency surgery for an inflammatory infection.
She still works as a manager at the bowling lanes at the Tignish Parish Centre, but says the ostomy limits some areas of her life.
"When I put one on, I'm just hoping for the best before I go anywhere,” Brennan said.
“I went to church and the bag let go, I had to leave. I went to different things, I had to leave."
Brennan said she pays $90 for a box of ten flanges, even after ordering them from a cheaper supplier in Montreal. She said it was difficult to estimate how long a box usually lasts her. Sometimes it is a week, sometimes as little as three days.
She said the costs for flange are significant, but said younger people often have less financial support than she does. She is currently collecting Old Age Security.
"I know how hard it is for myself to try to scrounge, when I need my supplies,” she said.
"I can't imagine those that have young families, with Crohn’s [disease] and stuff and have that surgery. If it's like me, my kids always come first, I'd do without in order for my kids to have it.”
Tignish-Palmer Road MLA Hal Perry said he hears concerns from constituents like Brennan often. He has spoken to Mitchell, his government colleague, but said the issue of ostomy supply coverage needs to be addressed promptly.
"I just think every month that goes by, these individuals are put at risk of developing an infection or are struggling to make ends,” Perry said.
“Enough talk, we need action."
