Last month, the Government of Canada announced measures in support of the first-ever National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases. Through this, we will help increase access to, and affordability of, effective drugs for rare diseases to improve the health of patients across Canada, including children.

In Canada, one out of twelve people—many of whom are children—has a rare disease. There are thousands of different rare diseases that affect patients, their families and caregivers across the country. Unfortunately, treatments are only available for a small percentage of these conditions. Even when treatments that might dramatically improve the quality of a patient's life are available, they are often unaffordable and out of reach.

This funding to the provinces and territories will combat lack of access to treatment for rare diseases, support early screening and detection for rare diseases, and support covering the costs of drugs for rare diseases.

You can access additional information on Canada's first-ever National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases here.