Question Period Note: EMERGING MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR VETERANS

EMERGING MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR VETERANS

• The health, safety and well-being of Veterans and their families is a priority for our Department.

• Veterans Affairs Canada provides coverage, based on eligibility, for evidence-based health care benefits and services where supported by scientific evidence.

• The Department monitors emerging treatments, and once there is sufficient scientific evidence available demonstrating it as safe and effective, may add it to its list of approved treatments.

• For example, Veterans Affairs Canada covers the use of Ketamine when prescribed as a pharmacological treatment, when administered by infusion, nasal spray or compounded cream, to treat treatment-resistant major depression disease or chronic pain.

• However, as providing psychotherapy to someone in a drug-induced psychedelic state is still an emerging therapy, without sufficient evidence, VAC does not cover this treatment.

• Health care is an ever evolving field. As emerging treatments are brought to our attention, the Department will review the scientific evidence to ensure they are safe and effective for our Veterans, and adjust its formulary accordingly.

BACKGROUND — EMERGING MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR VETERANS

Health care is an ever evolving field greatly influenced by research and
emerging treatments and technology. While there are always new and emerging treatments, in an effort to ensure Veterans are receiving safe and effective care, Veterans Affairs Canada provides coverage for evidence-based health care benefits and/or services where the value and safety of the benefit and/or service is supported by scientific literature.

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is an emerging treatment which includes the use of substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), Psilocybin, 3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, i.e., ecstasy, molly), Ketamine or lbogaine, to induce a psychedelic state as part of a psychotherapy treatment. As this therapy is emerging and there is not sufficient scientific literature available to date to support the effectiveness and safety, it has not been recognized as a Veterans Affairs Canada-approved treatment.

The use of Ketamine as a pharmacologic treatment is approved as a non-formulary product administered by infusion, nasal spray or compounded cream, to treat treatment-resistant major depression disease or chronic pain. Criteria has been established for these uses only.

The use of Ketamine for other purposes, such as inducing a psychedelic state as required for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, is not currently approved by Veterans Affairs Canada.

Veteran Affairs Canada monitors emerging medical treatments for Veterans, and once there is sufficient scientific evidence available to support a safe and effective treatment, it may adjust its formulary accordingly.

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