An expert panel is calling for the federal government to work with the provinces and territories to create a single-payer national pharmacare plan to cover every Canadian.
Eric Hoskins, OntarioB次元官网网址檚 former health minister, released the findings in Ottawa, giving advice on how to address the countryB次元官网网址檚 patchwork of private and public prescription-drug plans.
Canada has a variety of drug plans administered by provinces, mainly for children, seniors and people on social assistance.
Other plans managed by the federal government cover other groups, such as Indigenous people and members of the military, while private insurance fills the gaps for some.
HoskinsB次元官网网址� council is recommending a new drug agency that would be responsible for developing a national list of prescription drugs, known as a formulary, beginning with common or so-called essential medicines by Jan. 1, 2022.
It also recommends that the initial formulary expand to a B次元官网网址渇ully comprehensive formularyB次元官网网址� no later than Jan. 1, 2027.
B次元官网网址淥ur council has heard the stories of thousands of Canadians and listened to a wide range of perspectives,B次元官网网址� Hoskins said in the report, entitled B次元官网网址淎 Prescription for Canada: Achieving Pharmacare for All.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he time for universal, single-payer, public pharmacare has come B次元官网网址� LetB次元官网网址檚 complete the unfinished business of universal health care. That can be our promise, and our legacy, to each other and to all future generations.B次元官网网址�
The council says universal, single-payer public pharmacare will provide access to prescription medications for all Canadians, including an estimated one in five Canadians who are either uninsured or underinsured.
The plan, once implemented, will result in an estimated $5 billion in savings, the council said, adding that savings for Canadians will be on average $350 per year.
In its last budget, the Liberal government pledged to create a new agency to buy drugs in bulk and cut Canadian medication costs as the first step toward a national drug plan.
ALSO READ:
ALSO READ:
The Canadian Press
Like us on and follow us on .
