Pharmacare Act includes universal access to contraception and
diabetes medications.
OTTAWA,
ON, Oct. 10, 2024 /CNW/ - Everyone in
Canada deserves access to the
medications they need, regardless of where they live or their
ability to pay. Canadians should not have to choose between
purchasing the medications that keep them healthy and putting food
on the table.
Today, the Pharmacare Act received Royal Assent and
immediately came into force. The Minister of Health will continue
working with provinces and territories to reach bilateral
agreements to provide universal, single-payer, first-dollar access
to a range of contraception and diabetes medications as the first
phase of a national universal pharmacare program. These agreements
will support reproductive freedom by providing up to nine million
women and gender diverse people in Canada free access to contraception.
Additionally, the 3.7 million people in Canada living with diabetes will have
universal access to a suite of medications that reduce the risk of
serious health complications and improve quality of life.
The Act also requires that Canada's Drug Agency develop a list of
essential drugs and related products to inform the development of a
national formulary, a national bulk purchasing strategy to help
further reduce drug prices, and a pan-Canadian strategy on the
appropriate use of prescription medications. The Government of
Canada will consult with
provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, and other partners and
stakeholders about the path forward to improve the accessibility,
affordability, and appropriate use of pharmaceutical products. The
Act also requires that a committee of experts be established within
thirty days to make recommendations on the operation and financing
of national, universal, single-payer pharmacare in
Canada.
Passing the Pharmacare Act is a crucial step forward to
improve health equity, affordability, and outcomes, and will result
in long-term savings to the health care system. The government is
determined to work towards a plan where Canadians can obtain their
medication as prescribed, regardless of where they live or if they
can afford it.
Quotes
"Everyone in Canada deserves
access to the care they need, including to prescription
medications. Our plan for universal access to contraception means
reproductive freedom and choice and access to diabetes medication
is a transformational step towards improving health outcomes and
health equity in Canada. I thank
all partners for their contributions to making this happen."
The Honourable Mark Holland
Minister of Health
Quick Facts
- Many Canadians have no insurance for prescription medication or
are under-insured. In 2021, Statistics Canada found that one in
five adults in Canada did not have
the insurance they needed to cover their medication costs.
- On February 29, 2024, the
Government of Canada introduced
Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare (Pharmacare
Act).
- In addition to providing access to a number of contraception
and diabetes medications, the Act will also establish a fund for
diabetes devices and supplies to help Canadians manage and monitor
their diabetes and administer their medication.
- On December 18, 2023, the
Government of Canada announced the
creation of Canada's Drug Agency
with an investment of over $89.5
million over 5 years, starting in 2024-25. The Agency will
help Canadians achieve better health outcomes by providing the
dedicated leadership and coordination needed to make Canada's drug system more sustainable and
better prepared for the future.
- On March 22, 2023, the Government
of Canada announced measures in
support of the first-ever National Strategy for Drugs for Rare
Diseases, with an investment of up to $1.5 billion over three years to help increase
access to, and the affordability of, effective drugs for rare
diseases. Bill C-64 commits to a model for long-term funding
through bilateral agreements with provinces and territories,
beginning with funding for the National Strategy for Drugs for
Rare Diseases.
- In August 2021, the Governments
of Canada and Prince Edward Island (PEI) announced the
Improving Affordable Access to Prescriptions Drugs Program
that provides federal funding to PEI to improve access to
prescription drugs and make them more affordable for Island
residents. Since then, PEI residents have saved over $2 million in out-of-pocket costs on more than
230,000 prescriptions under PEI's $5
copay program, which was launched in June
2023 and reduced copays for almost 60% of medications
regularly used by Island residents.
Associated Links
- Backgrounder: Universal Access to Contraception
- Backgrounder: Universal Access to Diabetes Medications, and
Diabetes Device Fund for Devices and Supplies
- Final Report of the Advisory Council on the Implementation of
National Pharmacare
- Prescription drug insurance coverage
SOURCE Health Canada (HC)