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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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?
It’s become almost a matter of faith: health and health care are perennially among the top priorities for Canadians, but are nearly invisible in election platforms and debates.
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.
Canada’s cities face a number of problems: traffic, housing, crime, infrastructure – the list goes on. Prescription drugs are one of these problems – one that is costing local governments as much as $500-million every year.
