A confidence-and-supply agreement between the NDP and the Liberal Party of Canada could come to an end if the Liberals donB次元官网网址檛 agree on new legislation that would begin the process to create a universal pharmacare system.
The New Democrats gave the Liberal Party until March 1 to agree on the legislation, which would set the legal framework to a new, Canada-wide pharmacare plan, a policy the Liberals campaigned on in the 2019 election.
B次元官网网址淪eniors that IB次元官网网址檝e spoken to, in B.C., on [Vancouver Island], who are right now reeling with the high cost of groceries, rent and mortgage, theyB次元官网网址檙e saying, B次元官网网址楬ow do we budget given how expensive everything is?B次元官网网址� TheyB次元官网网址檙e also having to make really tough choices in their budgets between groceries or medication, and in a country thatB次元官网网址檚 as rich as ours that shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be a choice that a senior has to make,B次元官网网址� said Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party.
According to a Statistics Canada survey from 2021, 21 per cent of Canadians reported not having insurance to cover medication costs. Canada is also the only country in the world with a national health-care system that does not provide universal coverage for prescription drugs.
Singh said although his party is only looking for the B次元官网网址渓egislation to set us up to be in a position to eventually get this done,B次元官网网址� and is not requesting it to be included in this yearB次元官网网址檚 budget, the price calculated for the program would be B次元官网网址渏ust under $40 billion.B次元官网网址� He called it a B次元官网网址渂ig investment,B次元官网网址� but added that it would be offset by the long-term benefits.
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B次元官网网址淸Universal pharmacare] would lower costs for provinces, territories, and the federal government, it would eventually lower the costs for medication for everyone,B次元官网网址� he told the B次元官网网址 Bulletin. B次元官网网址淚t would also mean for B.C., which already buys medication, you go to the hospital, the medications you receive, whether itB次元官网网址檚 painkillers or antibiotics, itB次元官网网址檚 covered, you donB次元官网网址檛 have to pay for that. For the same amount of money that B.C. already spends on medications in the hospital or in other scenarios, this program would cover every single person in the province.B次元官网网址�
The program would affect B.C.B次元官网网址檚 life sciences and pharmaceuticals sector; however, Singh said the industry would remain B次元官网网址渉ighly profitable.B次元官网网址� The federal government would be able to negotiate better prices and buy in bulk which would calm the current B次元官网网址渨ild westB次元官网网址� of pharmaceutical pricing, and B次元官网网址渋nsurance companies and pharmaceutical companies wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be able to rip off Canadians in the way that they have been.B次元官网网址�
Coming up to the given deadline, Singh said he doesnB次元官网网址檛 know whatB次元官网网址檚 going to happen, and the B次元官网网址渂all is in the LiberalsB次元官网网址� court now.B次元官网网址� He says the Liberals are currently on the side of B次元官网网址渂ig pharmaB次元官网网址� despite the research and a 2019 government-sponsored report that found B次元官网网址渢he best, most cost-effective, most efficient, best value for moneyB次元官网网址� is universal pharmacare.
B次元官网网址淎re they going to back up people, or are they going to back up their buddies in the in the pharmaceutical industry? I donB次元官网网址檛 know, I guess weB次元官网网址檒l have to see,B次元官网网址� said Singh.
According to the Ministry of HealthB次元官网网址檚 2023-24 departmental plan, Health Canada has B次元官网网址渆ngaged extensivelyB次元官网网址� since 2021 with provinces, territories and stakeholders on the potential scope and functions of a Canada Drug Agency as part of its work toward a Canada Pharmacare Act.
bailey.seymour@nanaimobulletin.com
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