Patient Access & Health Equity 2025

Patient Access & Health Equity

Patients Seeking Access to New Treatments Are Mobilizing to Change Policies

Ontario patients with immune thrombocytopenia are pressing policymakers to expand public access to new therapies. Platelet Disorder Support Association

Innovation is transforming healthcare at an unprecedented pace. From devices that enable faster diagnoses to therapies that alleviate or even cure disease, the potential for improved patient outcomes has never been greater. However, healthcare systems are not always able to keep up with the speed of innovation. As a result, patients — especially those with rare conditions— can be left behind. This includes Ontarians living with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

A rare, serious blood disorder

ITP is a rare, chronic autoimmune condition that reduces blood platelets. Since platelets are essential for clotting, a low count can cause excessive bruising, bleeding gums, and in severe cases, life-threatening internal bleeding such as brain hemorrhages. While some people experience a mild form of ITP that resolves on its own, others endure a lifelong battle with the disease.

“It’s a different journey for each of us,” says Dale Paynter, an ITP patient from Cambridge, Ontario. “For some, it can be manageable. For others, it’s devastating. Different patients need different treatments — it’s as simple as that.”

Challenges in treatment pathways

But accessing those treatments isn’t always simple. The current treatment pathway in Ontario is limited and slow to adapt. Patients are treated first with corticosteroids and plasma-derived therapies; however, these are temporary fixes and come with

significant side effects. If those fail, patients may be offered a splenectomy, a major surgery that involves removing the spleen. While this can be effective in some cases, it’s not a guaranteed cure and leaves the patient vulnerable to lifelong infection risks.

New treatments, still out of reach In recent years, a new class of medications called thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) have become available. These treatments are designed to stimulate platelet production and are considered effective and safe for chronic ITP patients. Three TPO-RA therapies are currently approved in Canada and have become part of established international treatment guidelines.

However, many patients still can’t access them—especially those relying on public drug plans. Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA) had issued negative recommendations for all three TPO-RAs, resulting in most provinces declining to cover them through public funding. While private insurance may cover the cost, not all patients have access to private plans.

“It’s incredibly overwhelming,” says Paynter, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Platelet Disorder Support Association’s (PDSA’s) Board of Directors. “There are proven, guideline-supported treatments accepted in other jurisdictions that could precede surgery and reduce hospital visits. Yet public access in Ontario remains limited and requires a great deal of documentation. That’s why we are advocating.”

Taking their message to policymakers

In May, PDSA organized our country’s first-ever ITP Awareness Day at Queen’s Park in Toronto. Patients, caregivers, and clinicians met with Members of Provincial Parliament to raise awareness and push for policy change. The group received a warm response.

“These first meetings were something I have dreamt of for my ITP family in Canada for over a decade, and the reception was encouraging,” said Paynter. “Officials listened, and many expressed a willingness to help.”

Turning advocacy into action

Just weeks later, Canada’s Drug Agency announced consultations on how TPO-RAs could be better integrated into the public system—though only two of the three approved treatments are included in the current review. Still, PDSA considers this progress.

As members of the ITP community meet this weekend in Toronto as part of ITP Awareness Month, they’ll be discussing how to keep that progress going, “Conversations with Ontario’s Ministry of Health have also been positive,” Paynter added. “We’re hoping to see that dialogue turn into real, meaningful change and accessible availability of more options for the benefit of ITP patients nationwide.”

MyVisit™ by LifeLabs®: Bringing Lab Testing to You

LifeLabs® continues to empower healthier Canadians by providing timely, convenient, and easy-to-access services, including at-home lab testing.

Tania Amardeil

Mahan Senior Vice President, Business and Consumer Markets

Empowering healthier Canadians starts with solutions that fit you and your family’s schedule and needs. With MyVisit™ from LifeLabs®, expert lab testing can be brought directly to you, when and where you need it most, so you can get answers and reassurance without disrupting your day.

“As Canada’s largest lab, we’re proud of our legacy in supporting patients throughout their healthcare journey,” said Lawrence Mahan, Senior Vice President, Business and Consumer Markets. “We recognize that to make your experience as seamless as possible, we need an option where we come to you. It’s about making bloodwork easier and more convenient for everyone.”

Introducing MyVisit™ by LifeLabs®: Testing that comes to you

Getting critical lab testing done has never been easier to fit into life’s busy schedule. With MyVisit™, Canadians can get their lab testing wherever works best for them, within Ontario. The process is simple, saving time for caregivers, professionals, and anyone

looking for healthcare that adapts to their schedule.

“Our patients have diverse needs, and it’s our responsibility to find solutions that don’t just fit into their lives, but empower them throughout their health journey,” said Mahan. “For example, people with physical challenges don’t need to arrange for transportation to get their bloodwork done, we can simply come to them, at their home. We’re proud to provide options to making healthcare easier not just for patients but caregivers, adding not only convenience but also simplicity.”

For a service that’s all about convenience, the whole journey is built for you. You start by booking an appointment online, and our team comes to you. Then, we complete the testing – blood work, ECGs, or Holter Monitoring. Results are typically available within 24–48 hours, giving timely information to support your care.

Before your journey starts, you’ll receive clear pre-appointment instructions telling you what you need to know, and on the day of the appointment, you’ll have live updates so that you know exactly when your technician arrives.

Self-advocacy and Finding the Right Prosthetic Device

Enhancing patient care with convenience

MyVisit™ builds on LifeLabs®’ 60-plusyear legacy of supporting Canadians on their health journeys and empowering people to stay proactive about their health.

“We know that behind every sample is a mother, father, brother, sister, or friend counting on us to get it right,” says Mahan. “We’re honoured to have this responsibility, and we’re proud that MyVisit™ is already making a difference in our community.”

LifeLabs® completed over 390,000 mobile service appointments in Ontario last year, with almost half of MyVisit™ customers each month being returning customers. Most of those surveyed also indicated that they would recommend this service to their friends or family, which clearly reflects the convenience and value it provides Canadians.

“With a patient-centric focus, a commitment to quality, and advanced technologies, we enable Canadians to access the health information they need to live their best lives,” said Mahan. “MyVisit™ reflects that promise; empowering your experience by putting care, quality, and convenience during every step.”

When it comes to prosthetics like microprocessor-controlled knees, knowledge is power. Find out what’s available and advocate for what’s best for you.

Katherine Cappellacci

Microprocessor-controlled knees (MPKs) are modernizing the world of prosthetics. By using a microcomputer system, they’re able to control the extension and flexion of a knee joint throughout the stance and/or swing phase of every gait cycle.

There are many types of MPKs out there. As patients and caregivers, it’s important to explore all available prosthetic options. Always advocate for your health and find companies with which your personal goals align. Exercise and explore all funding possibilities, including private insurance, government funding, and non-profit funding. Remember that you have the

power to optimize your prosthetics journey every step of the way.

One industry leader to consider is Ottobock. For over 100 years, they have been committed to improving and restoring independence for people with mobility challenges.

Forward-thinking mechanics

Today, they have MPKs for all levels of activity and rehabilitation. Available models include the C-Leg (the world’s most studied and most trusted MPK), the Kenevo, the Genium, and Genium X4. Introduced last year, the Genium X4 is the newest, most-technologically advanced MPK on the market. This device provides unmatched function-

ality with ample customization options and cutting-edge digital workings.

Ottobock works closely with Prosthetists and Orthotists to offer a wide range of technologically advanced products including microprocessor hands, mechanical knees, feet and liners. A “people first” company, their vision and efforts align with and are inspired by the humans they help.

Early adoption is the key to patient success. Be your own advocate and research options like these to find the MPK most suited to you.

How Trexo’s Robotic Exoskeleton Is Changing Lives for Kids with Disabilities

Trexo’s robotic exoskeleton empowers children with disabilities to walk, fostering mobility, family connection, and joyful shared experiences.

Jenn Horowitz, Head of Marketing

The Trexo is an innovative robotic exoskeleton designed to help children with disabilities experience the benefits of walking. Trexo Robotics makes the device in Mississauga.

Trexo formed a Walking Club that brings local families together to walk and explore the GTA. Children with disabilities often get far less than the recommended 1–2 hours of daily activity, causing them to miss out on the health benefits of walking. Trexo exists to close the gap for these chil-

dren. The Walking Club encourages walking and connection.

Shared family experiences

The device also opens doors to shared family experiences. Trexo is witness to countless firsts and special moments for families.

This summer Kelley, her husband Marc, a Trexo Specialist, and their son Mitch, joined Jamie Campbell on the Blue Jays pre-game show to discuss the “game changing” Trexo.

Then, Mitch in his Trexo, and his parents beside him, walked the bases to the cheers of the Trexo team, after the game.

The Roberts encountered two other Trexo users and a kiddo who trialed Trexo at the game. A powerful reminder of how quickly awareness is spreading. With over 400 devices in use, more families are discovering the benefits every week.

Trexo is the only device in Canada that allows children that previously couldn’t walk, to get upright and walk, with the necessary support.

As CEO and co-founder Manmeet Maggu explains, “Trexo is a tool. The real story is the kiddos, their determination to walk, and the beautiful moments that follow.”

Bridging the Pharmacy Cancer Care Gap in Ontario’s Community Pharmacies

Learn how a new initiative in Ontario is reshaping cancer care by empowering community pharmacies to provide evidence-based support to patients.

Jamie Bissett

According to projections from the Canadian Cancer Statistics Dashboard, nearly half of Canadians — or nearly one in two — will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Fortunately, advancements in cancer treatments, particularly novel, pill-based therapies, are making care more accessible. This shift has made community pharmacies essential in cancer care.

Long trusted as health care generalists, community pharmacists are now tasked with expanding their clinical expertise to support the growing number of patients with cancer. However, without timely access to cancer care resources, the risk of mismanaging patient care increases, particularly given the nuances of prescribing new medications.

Bridging the cancer care gap

Extend Cancer Pharmacist Network (ECPN) is addressing this gap in Ontario with a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to support pharmacists with the expertise and resources needed to provide access-

ible cancer pharmacy-based care in their communities. By partnering with community pharmacies that have established relationships with patients, this initiative empowers pharmacists through educational training, on-demand support, and integrated patient care.

“The pace of oncology practice is so fast that information can be outdated in three to six months,” says ECPN founder Jason Wentzell. “We connect our pharmacy partners to an oncology pharmacy team in real time, ensuring they get immediate support to help the patient in front of them.”

The program’s resources and workflows are grounded in evidence-based care for take-home cancer medications. By combining best practices from Cancer Care Ontario and the Canadian Association of Pharmacy in Oncology, partnering pharmacies can confidently rely on ECPN’s support to address potential risks, such as incorrect dosages or harmful drug interactions, and ensure optimal patient safety.

Empowering patient-centred cancer care At the heart of this approach is empow-

ering patients to choose the care they need. Navigating cancer can be overwhelming, but thanks to consistent support through a trusted network, patients can feel confident that their health is being closely monitored throughout their treatment journey. Additionally, this initiative is committed to reducing the financial burden of treatment by helping pharmacies connect patients to medication support programs.

To expand cancer care access, ECPN is collaborating with Wholehealth Pharmacy Partners, a collective of over 280 community pharmacies. This pilot initiative will help bring extended cancer care to Ontarians in select locations. Molly Yang, Senior Director of Pharmacy Innovation and Professional Affairs at Wholehealth, underscores the significance of this partnership: “ECPN is an innovative and collaborative pharmacy cancer care model. We continue to be impressed with how they provide white-glove service to patients — it’s truly personalized care. They have a tremendous, full-stack team that supports not just patients but their families as well.”

How Pharmaceutical Distributors Ensure Canadians Get the Medicines They Need

As medication demand grows, Canadian pharmaceutical distributors are playing an increasingly important role in ensuring equitable patient access.

Laura

In Canada, the need for essential medications is on the rise, with approximately one in two Canadian adults and one in four Canadian children requiring prescription medications each month.1 Access to medication has a significant impact on quality of life, which makes it more important than ever for the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain to ensure consistent, equitable patient access. 2

Recently, the Canadian Association for Pharmacy Distribution Management (CAPDM) released a landmark report — based on analysis conducted by IQVIA Canada — that shined a spotlight on the critical and timely role of pharmaceutical distributors in safeguarding Canadians’ equitable access to essential medications. From bustling urban centres to remote communities, pharmaceutical distributors are responsible for delivering approximately 90 per cent of all prescription medications in Canada, fulfilling an average of 240,000 orders per week. 3

Ensuring equitable and timely medication access for Canadians Canada’s vast geography — along with extreme temperature fluctuations, infrastructure where only 40 per cent of roads are paved, and the growing frequency of natural disasters and climate-related events — poses significant challenges for pharmaceutical distributors operating 30 distribution centres across the country. These centres play a vital yet overlooked role in delivering essential medications to nearly 13,000 hospitals and pharmacies across

the country. 4 Amid the challenges of delivering medications across the world’s second-largest country, the report found that distributors are effectively meeting the needs of rural and remote communities.

“Reaching patients, especially in remote and rural areas, often requires more time and resources, specialized logistics, and higher costs,” says Angelique Berg, President and CEO of CAPDM. “Despite those higher costs, our members remain committed to ensuring safe, secure, and timely delivery of medications to every corner of the country. To keep that balance, distributors leverage their centralized systems’ route optimization and technology-driven logistics — anything they can to innovate, streamline, and make the supply chain safer and more secure.”

Even though their role is critical, pharmaceutical distributors remain largely invisible as they navigate growing demand for medications, as well as regulatory pressures and rising operational costs. With a government-regulated funding framework that has remained relatively stagnant for more than 15 years and growing distribution demands driven by the rise of temperature-controlled, cold-chain medications (such as biologics and specialty drugs), equitable access has become more complex.

Building a stronger health care system in Canada

“As distribution becomes more complex, the need grows for recognition, coordinated planning across the healthcare system, and infrastructure support to ensure lifesaving medi-

cines reach Canadians — wherever they live,” says Simona Zar, Senior Vice-President of Government Relations at CAPDM

To ensure hospitals, pharmacies, and clinics are supplied with essential, lifesaving medications for Canadians, CAPDM serves as a strong advocate on behalf of its members. As stakeholders and governments work to modernize health care delivery, CAPDM says that pharmaceutical distributors must be recognized as strategic partners and be involved in health system planning early on.

“Recognizing their role would lead to more effective coordination across sectors to ensure that new healthcare models account for the realities and demands of medicine distribution,” says Zar.

Investing in supply chain

innovations for a healthier future

Pharmaceutical distributors play a key role in managing complex inventories, delivering specialty medications safely, and supporting emergency preparedness planning. To ensure these pillars remain strong and to ensure a stable supply of medications now and in the future, Berg says it’s important for Canada to invest in innovative supply chain improvements that keep it flexible and resilient.

“A resilient health system needs a resilient distribution backbone, and that starts with recognition and action at all levels of government,” says Berg.

A New ALS Treatment

Is Bringing Hope to Canadians, but Access Is Key

The first-ever Health Canada-approved treatment for a specific genetic form of ALS is now available, but ensuring equitable access is critical.

Tania Amardeil

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurological disease that affects an estimated 4,000 Canadians. If that number doesn’t seem alarmingly high, it’s because the disease is so horrifically deadly: 80 per cent of patients die within two to five years of diagnosis.

“ALS is a disease where the living wires that connect your brain to your muscles — known as the motor neurons — degenerate and die,” explains David Taylor, Chief Scientific Officer at the ALS Society of Canada. “As this spreads throughout the body, people become paralyzed and lose the ability to move, speak, swallow, and eventually breathe. That’s why it’s a terminal disease, and it’s incredibly complex to treat.”

Funding groundbreaking research

This complexity, Taylor explains, is because the brain and spinal cord function like an intricate internal computer, while an organ like the heart is just a simple pump. But scientific advancements are increasingly making forays into treating neurodegenerative diseases.

ALS Canada funds foundational research that has led to significant sci-

entific progress, including the recent development of Qalsody, the first Health Canada-approved treatment for SOD1, a genetic form of ALS. ALS Canada’s Research Program made investments in establishing SOD1’s dysfunction in ALS, contributing to global efforts that paved the way for treatments like Qalsody, which is already making a difference for people living with ALS, including Paula Trefiak, an ALS Canada Community Ambassador who has SOD1-ALS.

ALS Canada’s provincial, national, and international advocacy work strives to ensure that drug access pathways reflect the realities of people living with ALS.

This treatment has been lifechanging for me. […] It’s not a cure, but it gave me my life back.

“This treatment has been life-changing for me,” says Trefiak. “I can run again, my speech difficulties are gone, I can sleep through the night, and even my lung function improved from 72 per cent to 93 per cent. It’s not a cure, but it gave me my life back.”

Advocating for access

While Qalsody represents significant hope for the ALS community, it’ll only be able to change Canadian patients’ lives if they all have fair and equitable access to it through public reimbursement.

“Some people with ALS die within a year of symptoms appearing,” says Taylor. “Every day matters. Even after Health Canada approval, provincial reimbursement can take years. That’s unacceptable for ALS.”

“Not all people with ALS can work or have private insurance to cover costs,” adds Trefiak. “We need provinces to fully fund this drug. Families like mine have parents, children, and siblings with ALS — and we shouldn’t have to choose who gets treatment.”

ALS Canada is addressing equity around treatments and the need for coordinated care across ALS clinics to support Qalsody’s delivery, administered by injection. The organization is committed to advocating for people like Trefiak and her family to ensure they have timely and equitable access to approved treatments.

Shaping the Future of Kidney Care in Canada

The Kidney Foundation of Canada is partnering with patients and healthcare providers to develop a national kidney disease framework. Abigail Cukier

Did you know that over four million Canadians have kidney disease? That’s 1 in 10 of us.

Despite this, there is no national framework for chronic kidney disease (CKD) similar to those for other chronic conditions like diabetes or dementia.

By recognizing CKD as a major health priority, we can unlock new opportunities for innovative research, improve prevention, detection, and treatment, and ensure that everyone in Canada has access to the care they need.

The Kidney Foundation of Canada is developing a National CKD Framework to deliver meaningful change for patients, no matter who they are, where they live or where they are on their kidney journey.

Prevention, detection and treatment

“We have consulted with health professionals, patients, families, researchers, and other partners to help define advocacy priorities and identify the actions needed to transform kidney disease prevention, detection and treatment,” says Carrie Thibodeau, National Director, Programs and Public Policy at The Kidney Foundation of Canada.

”Key areas of focus that emerged during the consultation process were prevention, early diagnosis, and timely treatment, which are essential to intervening before people need a transplant or dialysis,” Thibodeau says.

Prioritizing kidney disease screening for at-risk populations and expanding access to medications that have been shown to delay or prevent the progression of kidney disease are important steps toward ensuring that all Canadians have access to the care they need.

Supporting new healthcare policies

Standardizing and improving data collection would inform and support healthcare policies that address inequities and improve quality of life for people affected by kidney disease. The Foundation is also calling for increased funding for research into innovative approaches to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease.

Sean Delaney is a two-time kidney transplant recipient. The Edmonton resident is part of the Foundation’s national framework team and has been speaking to patients across the country.

“We are pushing for more awareness in the broader community and among decision makers,” he said.

“This has put me and our many volunteers, including healthcare providers and, most importantly, those with lived experience, into the halls of government and has allowed us to share our message.

“Sitting with a member of parliament or government employee, you don't have to go very far into the conversation before someone says, ‘I have a relative who’s been down this road’ or ‘I know a living organ donor’. So many people are one or two steps removed from organ donation or chronic kidney disease. It personalizes the issue for decision makers.

“There has been really good dialogue. So this is an incredible thing The Kidney Foundation has done.”

The power of knowledge and connection Delaney also appreciates the programs and resources The Kidney Foundation of Canada provides to patients and their loved ones. “The Foundation’s one-on-one or group

peer support is probably the best starting point for a patient,” he says. “Care is a complicated process. You have to learn about treatment and who’s who on your care team. Peer support volunteers can help you figure it out and you don’t feel so alone.”

Thibodeau says the Foundation’s other resources include a patient handbook for newly-diagnosed patients and the KidneyInfo website, which provides customized support and information tailored to a patient’s kidney journey.

Early diagnosis and timely treatment are essential to intervening before people need a transplant or dialysis.

The Kidney Community Kitchen helps patients manage all the dietary guidelines that come with kidney disease. It includes dietitian-approved recipes, a meal planner and an opportunity to ask general nutrition questions of registered dietitians.

Advocacy can help effect real change “Systemic change is needed to increase access to kidney disease prevention and care,” says Thibodeau. “Today, there are effective treatments that can stop kidney disease in its tracks, but they’re not as widely accessible or consistently available across Canada as they should be. It’s crucial that people at risk are diagnosed early and have equitable access to these life-changing treatments.

“Advocating at the government level can make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and caregivers. We can’t achieve this alone. Our best chance of success is for all of us to speak up and make our voices heard.”

Bridging Education and Awareness Gaps Leads to Improved Patient Outcomes

Closing the care gaps for patients with complex diseases requires more public and clinical education, faster referral pathways, and patient-centered innovations.

Anne Papmehl

Patients with complex diseases need a proper and timely diagnosis.

But that’s not always easy to come by. Lack of clinician and public education on conditions such as Myasthenia Gravis (MG), Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA), and Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) often result in misunderstood symptoms and delayed diagnosis. Further, a lack of access to family doctors and specialists like dermatologists and neurologists can lead to longer wait times for patients.

“This can mean losing a critical window of opportunity to treat the disease and slow its progression,” says Rodrigo Reis, General Manager at UCB Canada Inc., a pharmaceutical organization specializing in developing therapies for neurological and autoimmune conditions.

The negative consequences of misunderstood symptoms and delayed diagnosis are not restricted to the individual patient. “It’s very costly to the healthcare system when you have a patient spending several years consulting with numerous professionals and undergoing various tests with no

In marking its 100-year anniversary, BMS Canada continues its steadfast commitment to increasing education and awareness of HCM and other cardiac conditions.

Anne Papmehl

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited condition in which the heart muscle becomes thickened and stiff. This thickening and stiffness reduce the amount of oxygen-rich blood being pumped out to the rest of the body.

HCM affects about 1 in 500 Canadians. 1 Despite its prevalence, many Canadians are unaware of the signs and don’t understand the potential risks, like arrhythmias, heart failure, and stroke. 2 Symptoms can vary, but typically include chest pains, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting spells, heart palpitations, and fatigue. Because the symptoms are often subtle and can overlap with other conditions, patients may dismiss them until they become more severe. Consequently, many HCM patients tend to be undiagnosed.

Marking a century of impact

For over 100 years, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) Canada has been at the forefront of advancements

conclusive results” says Reis. “There are also broader costs to society and the economy if patients’ symptoms progress to the point that they become unable to work,” he says.

Patient perspective critical to identifying unmet needs

Improving the patient journey requires consultation with multiple stakeholders. “Healthcare providers are an obvious group since they are the experts and have that technical perspective, but it’s equally important to understand the disease through the patient’s lens,” he says.

An important tool for obtaining patient perspectives is patient advocacy groups’ data. “These patient-reported data and insights are extremely useful not only to the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare system, but also to inform Canada’s Drug Agency which is responsible for managing the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) for new treatments,” says Reis.

The role of innovative organizations and collaboration with public research institutes Innovative organizations can play a

role in developing treatments, technologies, and patient-driven solutions.

One way is through collaboration with public research institutes, something that UCB is invested in. “Our FASTRAX program, for example, is part of a global initiative that aims to reduce time to diagnosis for people with axSpA,” says Reis. Through FASTRAX, UCB is piloting an interdisciplinary model to streamline the referral pathways and accelerate the assessment process for these patients.

“The feedback from rheumatologists has been very positive so far, and we’ll be able to replicate this model in the future and hope to incorporate it into the public healthcare systems to ensure better care for these specific patients,” says Reis.

Another way organizations can be part of the solution is by taking a patient-centred approach. “This is the approach that we take at UCB. We involve patients in every step of our drug development process to ensure that all decision making reflects their needs,” says Reis.

A patient-focused approach has the potential to transform how complex diseases are diagnosed and treated.

in diagnosing and treating a broad range of diseases, including cardiac conditions.

Early on, BMS Canada recognized the critical gap that resulted in HCM being underdiagnosed. Today, BMS’s investments in innovative therapies, patient and physician education, and better diagnostic approaches are leading to earlier diagnosis. For the fourth year in a row, BMS Canada is supporting the Canadian Cardiovascular Society HCM Learning Series, a teaching series which aims to enhance HCM education by focusing on key gaps in diagnosis, treatment, as well as long-term management and improve the clinical practices of healthcare professionals caring for HCM patients throughout Canada.

Bridging the awareness and diagnosis gap

Bridging the HCM awareness and diagnosis gap is critical to saving lives and a vital part of BMS Canada’s mission. Through partnerships with patient advocacy groups, such as the HeartLife Foundation,

BMS Canada has launched several educational initiatives, including the centralized hub Could It Be HCM, a platform for understanding HCM, signs and symptoms, connecting to support groups, and information on the diagnostic journey. “It’s designed for anyone who might be wondering about HCM or who may have recently received an HCM diagnosis and be looking for answers,” says Marc Bains, Co-Founder and Vice-President of the HeartLife Foundation. Besides education platforms, BMS Canada works with many partners across industry, aca-

demia, and government, to provide direct support for innovation within health care systems. This includes initiatives like the Quality Improvement Initiative in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, which funds projects that develop solutions to address specific care gaps in HCM diagnosis, effective management, and improved quality of life for patients. Through various partnerships and collaborations, the company also works to disseminate research and data to guide how HCM is recognized and managed in real-world practice. “These collaborations are critical to improving detection and treatment and, ultimately, better outcomes for Canadians,” says Bains. BMS Canada’s focus on HCM education and innovation initiatives reflects a 100-year legacy of consistently dedicating itself to advancing health care that puts patients firmly at the core.