Medication access may help to decide an election for the first time in Canada — it is one of several prominent issues garnering public attention as Ontarians head to the polls June 7th. The Ontario NDP have pledged to publicly fund a short list of prioritymedicinesfor all Ontarians. The PC party has said little about […]
The MPs mulling options for publicly funding medications this week will likely take their sweet time. There is no rush for them because they already have the type of publicly funded access to medications that is being contemplated for other Canadians. While approximately three million Canadians do not take medications as directed because of the […]
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 […]
Nav Persaud says a national drug plan would save lives, save money, and encourage better prescribing habits. So what are we waiting for? Nav Persaud is an expert advisor with EvidenceNetwork.ca, a physician and associate scientist at St Michael’s Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Toronto. Interview by Neeta das McMurtry for EvidenceNetwork.ca SaveSave
Why more money for health care is not the answer A version of this commentary appeared in the Hill Times, the Huffington Post and Policy Options In the Speech from the Throne and since, the new Liberal government has clearly said it is ready to re-engage with the provinces and territories on health care. This is a […]
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.
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.
There is certainly a lot of waste in health systems, but one area that seems to have escaped close scrutiny is the waste in private drug plans in Canada. To put it simply, that waste is gut-churning.
Health Ministers from across Canada will gather in Banff to discuss issues of common interest and explore opportunities to work together. Pharmacare — a program that would see all prescription drug costs covered through a publicly funded system instead of out-of-pocket — will almost certainly be on the agenda.
Canadians pay among the highest costs per capita among OECD countries for prescription drugs, with one Canadian out of 10 unable to fill their prescriptions because of financial reasons.
