CAPA raising arthritis issues on many fronts

In 2005, CAPA is raising arthritis issues on many fronts. The Canadian Pediatric Rheumatology Association has asked us to join them in advocating for medications and other needs of children with arthritis. We will do this and include juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in every issue of Voices. We have undertaken new initiatives such as co-sponsoring a very successful arthritis awareness event for British Columbia MPs and we have stepped up our advocacy through letters to newspapers, politicians and government officials. The Globe and Mail published Mary Kim's letter in December, and in March, Newfoundland's major newspaper, the Telegram, published Linda Wilhelm's open letter to the Premier calling for access to biologics. We have written the federal and Ontario Ministers of Health, the Chair of the Health Council of Canada and other senior members of government raising issues of cross-border Internet pharmacies, the need for patient involvement in the Common Drug Review and in monitoring adverse drug reactions. We have urged continued government funding of the Office of Consumer and Public Involvement (Health Products Food Branch of Health Canada).

On these and other matters, we collaborate with some two dozen organizations to achieve our objectives. The needs are great and we are grateful to each of these. Beyond these, we all owe particular thanks to the many CAPA members who are speaking out, raising awareness and bringing about change for the benefit of people arthritis. To learn more about our recent activities as well as our plans for 2005, see our Annual Report www.arthritis.ca/capa