By Ruth Lopert and Steve Morgan Canada’s healthcare system, Canadian healthcare system, Canadian medicare, cost of drugs, drug cost, Drug coverage, health care spending, health service funding, NAFTA, national drug plan, Pharmaceutical, positive innovation
A version of this commentary appeared in the Toronto Star, Ottawa Life and the Huffington Post A “modernized NAFTA” has significant implications for many sectors of the economy — and health care is one of them. What’s at stake? Canadians’ right to universal access to affordable medicines. When negotiating with the U.S. and Mexico, Canadian […]
By Marc-André Gagnon Canada’s healthcare system, Canadian healthcare system, Canadian medicare, cost of drugs, drug cost, Drug coverage, employee benefits, health care spending, national drug plan, Pharmaceutical, Quebec, Quebec healthcare
A version of this commentary appeared in the Ottawa Citizen, Windsor Star and the Huffington Post Ontario has been the site of dueling pharmacare proposals and Canadians are the victors. At the end of April, the opposition NDP promised universal drug coverage for a list of essential medicines. Not to be outdone, the ruling Liberal party […]
By Stephen Duckett Australia, Australian Medicare, Canada’s healthcare system, Canadian healthcare system, cost of drugs, drug cost, Drug coverage, health care spending, Healthcare spending, medicare, Pharmaceutical
A version of this commentary appeared in the Globe & Mail, the Huffington Post and the Victoria Times Colonist. Australia and Canada share many characteristics, but Canadians may not know one of them is that Australia’s universal health insurance scheme, Medicare, was modelled on Canada’s — albeit adapted to account for constitutional differences between the two countries. […]
By Avram Denburg and Wendy Ungar Canada’s healthcare system, Canadian healthcare system, Canadian medicare, children, cost of drugs, drug cost, Drug coverage, employee benefits, health care spending, national drug plan, Pharmaceutical, prescription drugs
From Ontario’s lips to the feds’ ears A version of this commentary appeared in the Hill Times and the Huffington Post. The Ontario government’s decision to invest in universal drug coverage for those under 25 is a long-needed policy commitment that will help ensure the health of our next generation. As a pediatric oncologist, I see children […]
By Danielle Martin and Sandro Galea access to care, American health care, Canada’s healthcare system, Canadian healthcare system, Canadian medicare, health care spending, national drug plan, U.S. healthcare
Trade policy with the United States puts Canadian medicare in the crosshairs A version of this commentary appeared in the Globe and Mail and the Canadian Health Network and Ottawa Life Magazine. America is facing a growing threat to the health of its citizens. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the American […]
By Steve Morgan Canada’s healthcare system, Canadian healthcare system, cost of drugs, drug cost, Drug coverage, employee benefits, health care spending, national drug plan, Pharmaceutical, prescription drugs, universal coverage, Universal health care
A version of this commentary appeared in the Toronto Star Ontario has just announced that they will offer a publicly funded pharmacare system for children and youth in Ontario. This is a small step in the right direction, one that is arguably most important for its symbolism in a national debate. Why just a small […]
By Danielle Martin access to care, Canada’s healthcare system, Canadian healthcare system, Canadian medicare, cost of drugs, drug cost, Drug coverage, health care spending, national drug plan, Pharmaceutical, surgical wait times
A version of this commentary appeared in the Montreal Gazette, the Hill Times and Victoria Times Colonist There’s nothing like an American health care debate to make Canadians feel lucky. As his first act in office, Donald Trump signed an executive order, taking the first step to repeal the Affordable Care Act. With the stroke […]
By Martin Ferguson-Pell access to health care, Affordable health care, Health care costs, health care spending, orthopaedic care, patient feedback
As world oil prices and the Canadian dollar slide perilously, Albertans must become more inventive and rigorous in managing our costs — and our expectations — especially in high-cost areas like infrastructure, education and health care.
Pharmacare is for kids too
By Avram Denburg and Steve Morgan Canada’s healthcare system, Canadian healthcare system, Canadian medicare, children, cost of drugs, drug cost, Drug coverage, employee benefits, health care spending, national drug plan, Pharmaceutical, prescription drugs
You are the parent of a sick child. You have a limited budget and you must decide to buy the medicine the doctor prescribed for your child or provide food and shelter for your family instead. What do you do?
Quebec’s outdated drug coverage policies should not be a model for the rest of Canada
By Marc-André Gagnon Canada’s healthcare system, Canadian healthcare system, Canadian medicare, cost of drugs, drug cost, Drug coverage, employee benefits, health care spending, national drug plan, Pharmaceutical, Quebec, Quebec healthcare
In spite of very high expenditures for drug coverage, one in 10 Canadians cannot afford to fill their prescriptions. The current patchwork of public and private plans across the country means that Canadians are covered for their prescription drugs based on where they live or work, rather than on their medical needs.