An attempt to get an all-party committee to develop a rare disease strategy in Ontario failed Thursday as the governing Liberals disagreed with the Opposition on how best to help people with so-called orphan diseases.
The majority Liberals voted against the Progressive Conservative motion to strike a committee to hear from rare disease sufferers and make recommendations on how to help them get diagnosis and treatment.
Health Minister Eric Hoskins recently announced a working group on rare diseases, which he said will help get immediate and tangible results. It will consist of clinical experts, patients and patient advocates — not politicians, he said.