P.E.I. can't afford to fund an expensive colorectal cancer drug, even though every other province in the country does, Health Minister Doug Currie says.

On Wednesday, New Brunswick announced it would cover the costs of Avastin in its provincial drug plan, leaving P.E.I. as the only jurisdiction that does not.

That will not change in the foreseeable future, Currie said, considering it would add approximately $600,000 a year to P.E.I.'s drug plan.

Avastin stops the blood supply to cancerous tumours. When it is used in combination with other drugs, Health Canada says, it can extend the life of a colorectal cancer patient by about five months.