Province

STD Free Drug Program

Program

Yukon

Free STD treatment is available at all Community Health Centres/Nursing Stations throughout Yukon and at Yukon Communicable Disease Control located in Whitehorse.

Medication is distributed through the Community Health Centres and Nursing Stations throughout Yukon and the Yukon Communicable Disease Control in Whitehorse.

Nunavut

Same as Northwest Territories

Same as Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories

Free STD drugs through Public Health and Community Health Centres.

A submission to fund STD medications for doctors' offices is being considered.

British Columbia

Physicians order free STD medications from the BCCDC pharmacy.

Only selected medications from Canadian STD Guidelines are available.

Alberta

Free drug replacement program for chlamydia, gonorrhea, NGU and MPC.

Benzathine penicillin for syphilis is supplied on an as-needed basis.

Drugs are replaced following receipt of provincial STD notification forms.

Saskat-
chewan

Saskatchewan has a publicly funded STD treatment program.

The following medications are purchased by CD Control and are made available to STD clinics and physicians for the outpatient treatment of STD:

Cefixime
Azithromycin
Erythromycin
Doxycycline
Benzathine penicillin
Ciprofloxacin

Hepatitis B vaccine is also available for the sexual partners of hepatitis B positive STD patients.

Public health offices and STD clinics (there are three) access the medications from CD Control. Physicians access the medications from the local public health offices.

Manitoba

There is a program for free STD drugs as per the Manitoba provincial STD Treatment Guidelines.

Free STD drugs are provided to physicians upon request.

Ontario

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (OMHLTC) does have a program for free access to STD drugs. Medications are distributed at no charge to local health units and their designated sites by the Ontario Government Pharmacy with authorization from the Public Health Branch.

Medications are distributed at no charge to local health units and their designated sites by the Ontario Government Pharmacy with authorization from the Public Health Branch.

Quebec

This program has been in operation since April 1992.

The following STDs are covered by the free drug program: chlamydial infection, gonorrhea, syphilis, Lymphogranuloma venereum, Granuloma inguinale, chancroid, as well as associated clinical syndromes such as pelvic inflammatory disease, salpingitis, cervicitis, urethritis, rectitis, epididymitis.

Over 20 000 persons benefited from this program in 1997.

The program modalities are as follows: the physician uses his usual prescription pad with the addition of the code n K o or n L o when prescribing. This indicates treatment for an index-case (code K) or for an STD contact-case (code L). The medication prescribed in this manner is provided free of charge to the patient. The Provincial Pharmacology Committee regularly publishes the list of approved medications. Note that azithromycin is included in the free drug program.

New Brunswick

There is a limited program for NB Family and Community Services clients.

The following medications are available to < 18 year old clients with a payment of $2.00 per prescription and for clients >= 18 years with a payment of $4.00 per prescription, for:

Cefixime, azithromycin, erythromycin, doxycycline, benzathine penicillin, ciprofloxacin.

Hepatitis B vaccine is available for close contacts of hepatitis B carriers.

Nova Scotia

The Nova Scotia government has a HBV program under which hepatitis B vaccine is free. Under the current Health Act, if a person with an STD is unable to pay for treatment, the Medical Officer of Health can request that the drugs be prescribed free of charge. Nova Scotia's Social Assistance/Welfare can also provide emergency funds for drugs.

Under the current Health Act if a person with an STD is unable to pay for treatment the Medical Officer of Health can request that the drugs be prescribed free of charge. Nova Scotia's Social Assistance/Welfare can also provide emergency funds for drugs. There is also an STD clinic operated by the QE Health Sciences Centre, Dr. David Hasse, 902-473-2272.

Prince Edward Island

Free to MDs requesting antibiotic medications for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

Antibiotics and other drugs are provided by the Health Department for STD treatment upon physician's request.

Newfound-
land and Labrador

The provincial office does not provide treatment for STDs other than those that are covered by the provincial drug plan for persons in receipt of social assistance, older persons and others who may be eligible on a one-to-one basis.

In the regions where STD clinics exist, free access to STD treatment is offered including

Famciclovir
Valacyclovir
Cefixime
Doxycycline
Ciprofloxacin
Azithomycin

Province

STD Free Drug Program

Program