A woman in Brampton has been told that OHIP won’t cover her chemotherapy drugs because of a technicality.

Anne Mitchell is going through a second round of chemo for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. When she arrived at the hospital for her first treatment, she was told she would have to pay $4,500 for one of the drugs, bendamustine.

The 67-year-old woman had to produce her credit card before the treatment could begin.

OHIP only pays for bendamustine for the first round of chemo.

Mitchell also has to take a second drug, rituximab, but OHIP only covers it in combination with a third drug that Mitchell can’t take. The hospital covered the $4,200 cost of the second drug pending an appeal.

In all, Mitchell says she will have to pay more than $50,000 for the complete treatment unless the Ministry of Health reconsiders.

The family has contacted their MPP who is trying to set up a meeting with Health Minister Deb Matthews. They have also set up an online petition calling on Matthews to make sure chemo drugs are fully covered.