B.C. Government Reverses Funding Decision for Rare Disease Treatment After Expert Committee Resignations
Key Insights
British Columbia's Health Ministry reversed its decision to cut funding for Brineura, a $1 million annual treatment for 10-year-old Charleigh Pollock, the province's only patient with Batten disease (search).
Four members of the Expensive Drugs for Rare Diseases Committee (search) resigned following the government's decision to override their recommendation to discontinue funding.
Health Minister Josie Osborne cited conflicting expert opinions and ordered independent reviews of the drug's efficacy and reimbursement criteria to prevent similar situations.
British Columbia's government has restored funding for a rare disease treatment after facing intense public pressure and expert committee resignations, highlighting systemic challenges in drug access decisions for ultra-rare conditions.
Health Minister Josie Osborne announced Thursday the reinstatement of funding for Brineura, a treatment costing approximately $1 million annually for 10-year-old Charleigh Pollock, who has Batten disease (search). The decision came after four members of the province's 50-member Expensive Drugs for Rare Diseases Committee (search) resigned following the government's override of their recommendation to halt funding.
Rare Disease Creates Unprecedented Situation
Pollock is the only person in British Columbia with Batten disease (search), an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that causes seizures, blindness and declining motor functions. The province had cut off funding last month for Brineura, citing committee experts who determined the medication was no longer helping slow the disease's progression.
The funding discontinuation made Pollock the only Canadian child with the disease whose medication would not be publicly funded, according to government confirmation. This unique situation sparked widespread criticism and a private fundraising campaign to purchase the treatment.
Expert Opinion Conflicts Drive Policy Reversal
Osborne's decision to restore funding was influenced by conflicting expert assessments. While the provincial committee recommended discontinuation, a separate group of U.S.-based experts sent a letter this week "strongly" opposing the funding cut and calling for a review of the decision criteria.
"Charleigh should not suffer because of what was significant disagreement among the groups of experts," Osborne said at a Friday news conference, where she apologized to the family for "the pain and the suffering that they've been through."
The minister personally called Pollock's mother, Jori Fales, to announce the funding restoration. Fales celebrated the news in a social media video, saying the "nightmare is over" and expressing gratitude to supporters who backed the cause.
Committee Resignations Signal Deeper Issues
The Health Ministry confirmed the four resignations occurred after Osborne's reversal decision but declined to speculate whether they were made in protest. The ministry maintains confidentiality regarding committee member identities as part of their participation agreement.
The resignations underscore tensions between clinical evidence assessment and political intervention in rare disease funding decisions. The committee's original recommendation was later endorsed by another expert group on July 11, prompting emotional public appeals from Fales.
Systemic Reforms Initiated
Recognizing the need for process improvements, Osborne has initiated several measures to prevent similar situations. She requested the Therapeutics Initiative (search), an independent body at the University of British Columbia, to conduct a thorough, evidence-based review of Brineura.
The minister also urged BioMarin Pharmaceuticals (search), Brineura's manufacturer, to request a formal review by the Canadian Drug Agency (search) of current reimbursement criteria. Additionally, she called on federal authorities to "urgently expedite" implementation of the National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases to ensure consistent national access across provinces and territories.
Political Response and Criticism
The case drew criticism across political lines, with B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad accusing the government of creating "GoFundMe health care." Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West, a former NDP staffer, questioned whether elected officials were fulfilling their role to "humanize the system" and offset "bureaucratic indifference."
Conservative MLA Brennan Day welcomed the reversal but criticized the process, stating the decision shows a "deeply broken" system that "only responds when headlines get loud enough, and families go public."
The controversy highlights ongoing challenges in balancing clinical evidence, expert recommendations, and compassionate access for patients with ultra-rare diseases, particularly when treatment costs exceed $1 million annually and patient populations are extremely small.