2007/02/19 (2)
The City of Niagara Falls, Ontario
Council Chambers
February 19,2007
No.2
Moved by Councillor Thomson
Seconded by Councillor Fisher
WHEREAS wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leaking of blood vessels to the back
of the eye, is the leading cause of blindness for Canadians over the age of fifty (50); and
WHEREAS nearly 16,000 Canadians are diagnosed with wet AMD every year; and
WHEREAS there are three sub-types of wet AMD lesions: predominantly classic, minimally classic
and occult; and
WHEREAS left untreated all three sub-types lead to blindness; and
WHEREAS in 2002, the Ontario government announced coverage for Visudyne therapy, a drug
treatment for the classic wet AMD; and
WHEREAS people with occult or minimally classic lesions are not covered for treatment; and
WHEREAS when not treated, the other forms of AMD can develop into predominantly classic
lesions; and
WHEREAS Visudyne treatments are expensive, in the thousands of dollars; and
WHEREAS a number of other Provinces provide coverage for Visudyne for all forms of AMD; and
WHEREAS despite not receiving Health Canada approval, those with occult AMD, who have
received Visudyne treatment, have seen their advancing blindness slowed; and
WHEREAS the cost of providing coverage for all sufferers of AMD is arguably less than the cost
of treating people after they incur blindness.
THEREFORE be it resolved that the Provincial Minister of Health be petitioned to extend coverage
of Visudyne treatment to those with minimally classic and occult wet age-related macular
degeneration (AMD).
AND The Seal of the Corporation be hereto affixed.
!!~ir:!~
~~
CITY CLERK
R. T. (TED) SALCI
MAYOR