By Robert Brown benefits, Canadians, employee drug benefits, health coverage, insurance, national pharmacare, national pharmacare program, Pharmacare, pharmacare benefits, prescription drugs
The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) recently published a report outlining the expected costs and benefits of a possible National Pharmacare Program – and it’s pretty good news for most Canadians. The pharmacare program that was assessed was one proposed by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health in 2016. This committee provided the program’s […]
By Alan Cassels Canada Health Act, cost of drugs, Drug coverage, drug plan, national drug, national pharmacare, pharmaceutical policies in Canada, prescription drug, Private health benefits, Private health care
The newest report from Canada’s brand name drug makers on access to new drugs has one key message: compared to other countries, Canada goes slow and low. New drugs are slower to be covered by our provincial drug plans and the numbers of people who get access to new drugs are lower than in other countries.
By Alan Cassels Canada Health Act, cost of drugs, Drug coverage, drug plan, national drug, national pharmacare, pharmaceutical policies in Canada, prescription drug, Private health benefits, Private health care
Amalgamation always seems like a good idea. Greater Victoria has 13 municipalities, 13 councils, oodles of separate fire and police departments and multiple separate teams of garbage-persons, road fixers, parks maintainers and others that you need to keep our cities humming.
By Robert McMurtry baby boomers, Canada Health Act, Canada’s healthcare system, Canadian economy, Canadian healthcare system, federal election, health service funding, national pharmacare, politics
Wait times have long been a source of concern for Canadians, and in some jurisdictions, remain a significant problem. Recently the Canadian Institutes of Health Information (CIHI) released their report for 2015. There is both encouraging news and areas in need of attention.
By Robert McMurtry baby boomers, Canada Health Act, Canada’s healthcare system, Canadian economy, Canadian healthcare system, federal election, health service funding, national pharmacare, politics
A federal election could be called any time in the next few months, judging by the media coverage and the ramping up of political activity. Many issues have been crowding into the media headlines in anticipation of the election — but with a notable absence of any consideration of healthcare by our political parties.
By access to care, access to health care, Canadian health care, Canadian healthcare system, Healthcare Costs and Spending, healthcare system, national pharmacare, Pharmacare, pharmacare benefits, Podcasts
Canada is currently the only developed country with a universal health-care system that does not include universal coverage of prescription drugs. And paradoxically is the most expensive one.
By Steve Morgan cost of drugs, drug plan, employee drug benefits, national pharmacare, Pharmacare, pharmacare benefits, Pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical policies in Canada, prescription drugs, Private health benefits, universal drug benefits
A growing number of health professionals, patients, community groups and even politicians are calling for national pharmacare. But many Canadians likely wonder what pharmacare is and whether Canada is ready for it.