Manitoba news: Manitobans living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy who were shut out of public drug coverage may finally get help. Canada’s Drug Agency has issued draft recommendations to widen public coverage for two treatments, Evrysdi and Spinraza, and Manitoba is now reviewing requests from adults who were previously ineligible.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a rare genetic disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and loss of motor function. Under draft recommendations from Canada’s Drug Agency, public coverage for Evrysdi and Spinraza would expand to people previously excluded, and Manitoba is assessing adult requests against the new criteria now.
By Maplestime News Desk | Winnipeg, Manitoba | November 12, 2026
Sources: mySteinbach, Government of Manitoba | Last updated: November 12, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Canada’s Drug Agency issued draft recommendations to expand public coverage for Evrysdi (risdiplam) and Spinraza (nusinersen).
- The review followed a request from Manitoba, made on behalf of patients and families.
- Manitoba previously followed national rules that restricted eligibility for the two drugs.
- Patients would still need to meet clinical requirements and be assessed by a specialist.
- Manitoba is reviewing requests from adults who were previously ineligible against the new recommended criteria.
- Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says work continues to expand provincial coverage.
What changed for Spinal Muscular Atrophy patients?
The province announced the change on October 28, 2026, welcoming a new national recommendation from Canada’s Drug Agency. Until now, Manitoba followed national drug coverage recommendations that restricted eligibility for publicly funded treatment with Evrysdi and Spinraza. People outside those limits could not get the drugs through the public plan, even when their doctors believed treatment could help.
That changed after patients and families came forward. The Manitoba government asked Canada’s Drug Agency to review the evidence again and reconsider the restrictions. The agency has now issued draft recommendations supporting expanded public coverage for both treatments, to include people who were previously excluded from the reimbursement recommendation.
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara framed the move as the result of listening. “When Manitobans living with spinal muscular atrophy and their families came forward asking for access to treatment, we listened and we took action,” Asagwara said. “We advocated for a national review because we knew these patients deserved to have their voices heard and the evidence reconsidered.”
Who qualifies for Spinal Muscular Atrophy coverage under the draft rules?
The draft recommendations widen the door, but they do not throw it open to everyone. Patients would still need to meet clinical requirements and be assessed by a specialist before coverage is approved. The province is currently reviewing requests from adults who were previously ineligible, assessing them against the new recommended criteria while work continues to expand provincial coverage.
For patient advocate Jeremy Bray, the draft recommendations already mean a great deal. “The CDA’s decision to expand access to these medications is a life-changing moment for me, my family and the SMA community,” he said. “This decision will allow people like me the opportunity to live fulfilling, healthy and productive lives for longer by accessing treatments which have the best chance of stopping or reversing the progression of this disease.”
Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, 800 Sherbrook Street. Photo: Jimj wpg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What still has to happen?
Two things are still unfinished, and families should know both. First, the national recommendations are drafts, not final coverage. The province says work continues to expand provincial coverage, which means the final shape of the program is still being set. Second, every patient still faces an individual assessment. Meeting the new criteria is a starting point, not a guarantee, and a specialist must assess each case.
What is real today is the review itself. Adults who were previously ineligible are having their requests assessed against the new criteria right now, instead of being turned away under the old limits. For people living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, keeping the ability to work, communicate and take part in everyday life can make a real difference to independence and quality of life, and that change is the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this mean every Manitoban with SMA gets coverage now?
No. The draft recommendations for Spinal Muscular Atrophy coverage are not final, and Manitoba is still working to expand provincial coverage. Patients must meet clinical requirements and be assessed by a specialist, and each request is reviewed on its own merits.
What are Evrysdi and Spinraza?
They are the two treatments named in the draft recommendations, Evrysdi (risdiplam) and Spinraza (nusinersen). The draft recommendations would widen public coverage for both to include people who were previously excluded.
What should patients do now?
Manitoba is reviewing requests from adults with Spinal Muscular Atrophy who were previously ineligible, assessing them against the new recommended criteria. The province says work continues to expand provincial coverage, so families should watch for further announcements.
Prescription tablets. Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Maplestime will provide updates from Spinal Muscular Atrophy drug coverage in Manitoba as announcements are made.
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Should life changing treatment be decided by a national draft, or should Manitoba just pay for it and sort out the paperwork later? Tell us in the comments. And share this with every Manitoban.
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