GreenShield Expands Essential Medicines Program Across Canada to Bridge Gaps in Drug Coverage for Underserved Canadians
GreenShield's Essential Medicines program provides 12 months of access to essential prescription medications - up to a value of $1,000 - at no cost to eligible individuals without private or public drug coverage. Medications are dispensed, shipped, and supported through GreenShield's pharmacy, ensuring a seamless and dignified experience for those who need it most.
'Our Essential Medicines program is rooted in our founding purpose,' said Zahid Salman, President & CEO of GreenShield. 'Nearly 70 years ago, our journey began in a Windsor pharmacy, where a mother faced an impossible choice between her health and her child's. That moment inspired our founder to create North America's first prepaid drug plan. Today, that same belief drives us: no Canadian should have to choose between health and affordability. This program shows how public-private partnerships can create lasting, scalable solutions to Canada's healthcare challenges.'
Tailored Regional Delivery
GreenShield's Essential Medicines program is delivered through customized, community-based partnerships that reflect the unique needs of each region. This approach enables GreenShield to reach those most in need.
In Nova Scotia, for example, GreenShield works through a referral-based partnership model with IONS (Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia), connecting with local organizations whose staff and clients require access to essential medicines. One participant, Emily McCallum, a part-time student and nanny managing a fibromyalgia diagnosis, shared:
'It definitely took a large chunk of stress out of things. Even if a doctor changes my medication, I don't have to panic about whether I can afford it. There's at least one consistent thing in my healthcare now—and that gives me more space to focus on school.'
In Alberta, the program is being piloted in partnership with The Alex Community Health Centre in Calgary, which has served the city's most vulnerable residents for over 50 years. Bethan Simms, Director of Primary Care at The Alex, noted:
'We see people delay or abandon treatment because they simply can't afford it. GreenShield's partnership has been essential for creating a responsive and supportive environment for our team's needs.'
A Scalable Model for National Impact
GreenShield's Essential Medicines program is more than a short-term solution—it's a proven, scalable, and sustainable blueprint for equitable access to prescription drug coverage in Canada. As a purpose-driven, non-profit health and benefits company, GreenShield reinvests its services and excess earnings to improve the health and well-being of underserved populations. The organization focuses its efforts where it has the expertise to make the greatest impact—specifically in the areas of mental health, essential medicines, and chronic disease management.
The Essential Medicines program is one of several signature initiatives under the GreenShield Cares social impact platform. It is designed to fill critical gaps in the current system by supporting individuals who lack drug coverage, without reducing access for those with employer-sponsored plans or shifting the funding burden to taxpayers. By working with trusted community partners, the program is tailored to local needs while complementing existing public and private systems.
'As we expand to more provinces, the impact of our Essential Medicines program will grow—not just in prescriptions filled, but in lives impacted,' said Mandy Mail, Executive Vice President, GreenShield Cares. 'This is what it looks like when a purpose-driven non-profit organization works hand-in-hand with community partners to deliver meaningful, measurable change. It's not just about access—it's about dignity, equity, and building a healthier future for all.'
This program builds on GreenShield's long-standing commitment to addressing Canada's most pressing health challenges through data-informed, community-based solutions. As outlined in its 2024 Impact Report, GreenShield has invested over $59 million and positively impacted nearly 750,000 lives, and is on track to reach its goal of investing $75 million to improve the lives of at least one million Canadians by the end of 2025.
Read GreenShield's full Impact Report here: https://grnshld.com/impact-report-2024
SOURCE GreenShield
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
5 hours ago
- New York Post
Jordan Peterson ‘taking some time off everything' as daughter reveals mold exposure illness
Controversial psychologist Jordan Peterson is 'taking some time off of everything' due to a debilitating illness caused by mold exposure, his daughter has announced. Mikhaila Peterson, who co-hosts Peterson's YouTube call-in show 'Answer the Call' for conservative media outlet The Daily Wire, revealed in a post on X on Thursday that her father was suffering from chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS), an acquired medical condition not generally recognised by mainstream medicine. Advertisement It's the latest health shock for the Canadian author and commentator, 62, who was checked into rehab for benzodiazepine addiction in 2019. 'Hey guys, @jordanbpeterson is taking some time off of everything,' Mikhaila said. 7 Mikhaila Peterson announced her father was suffering from CIRS. YouTube 'He was diagnosed with CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) due to a genetic predisposition that causes the immune system to have an inability to identify and detoxify mold/bacteria in indoor air (the genetic predisposition is not that rare, it's in about 25 percent of people but he has a severe version).' Advertisement Mikhaila said 'over the last year or so' her father had been 'feeling the impact of CIRS more and more'. 'Recently he was exposed to a particularly moldy environment while helping clean out my grandfather's house after he passed away which severely flared symptoms,' she wrote. 'To be crystal clear — this isn't about akathisia or medication. He's not on any medication. It's an immune system dysfunction.' Following the revelation of Peterson's drug addiction struggles, which caused shock among fans, he revealed he had developed akathisia — condition which can cause restlessness, mental distress and an inability to sit still — describing the symptoms as 'like being jabbed with something like a cattle prod, something electric, sharp, non-stop.' Advertisement 7 Jordan Peterson addresses students at The Cambridge Union on Nov. 2, 2018, in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. Getty Images 'CIRS is what has been behind his multiple health issues and random severe allergies and severe food sensitivities over the years,' Mikhaila wrote. 'He's really been suffering from this badly since 2017 we just didn't know what it was called. Only eating meat helped keep the symptoms under control but it hasn't been enough recently.' She said the condition was 'also the explanation behind recent cancelled shows, cancelled events, sporadic appearance of being rundown and general weepiness (caused by pain).' Advertisement Peterson, who joined The Daily Wire in 2022 after returning to public life, has been noticeably diminished and agitated in recent appearances — including a debate in May against 20 atheists for YouTube channel Jubilee. 7 It's the latest health shock for the Canadian author and commentator, 62, who was checked into rehab for benzodiazepine addiction in 2019. Jordan B Peterson / YouTube 'He's pausing the podcast at the moment, but we're hopeful for a somewhat speedy recovery, given we at least know what's going on, and there is treatment, and he's responding well, although it's pretty rough,' Mikhaila said. 'Praise GOD that we finally know what's been going on. The fact that doctors don't generally recognise that mould exposure in indoor air is causing chronic health issues is insane. The fact that this is the cause behind our food sensitivities and inability to tolerate anything other than meat (for eight years now), multiple disorders and diseases in my family, and is virtually unrecognised by the medical community, is absurd.' Peterson and his daughter have previously raised eyebrows for their promotion of the carnivore diet, dining exclusively on beef with salt and soda water. Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters 'Just like the medical system didn't recognize ketogenic diets as a treatment for mental disorders 10 years ago (and still most doctors don't),' Mikhaila said. 'Just like psych med withdrawal wasn't recognized five years ago (and still more doctors don't recognize it). This indoor air quality problem that causes Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome will be commonly diagnosed in the next five to 10 years. I am positive about that.' Advertisement Meanwhile, Peterson and Mikhaila's family-run online education venture, Peterson Academy, is facing criticism from former students who claim they were expelled from the 'free speech' university for speaking out. Peterson Academy, which launched last year with 16 courses divided into eight-hour lectures, initially charged students $499 a year. 7 Jordan Peterson (right) with his daughter, Mikhaila Peterson (2nd left), Tammy Peterson (2nd right), and Jordan Fuller (left). @MikhailaFuller/X Former student Frankie Joy Bailer claimed she was expelled for sharing a meme about price increases on the internal message board, drawing the ire of Mikhaila. Advertisement 'Being expelled from Peterson Academy for making memes was definitely not on my 2025 bingo card,' she said in a January interview on YouTube. Dusty May Taylor, another expelled student, shared a lengthy blog post about her experience, revealing Peterson was 'not active on the platform' that was largely run by Mikhaila as the chief executive. 'It is very ironic that Jordan Peterson is the man who consistently warns Canadians against vague laws being passed, which can be interpreted any which way and result in punitive action being taken against troublesome citizens,' she wrote. Peterson Academy is headquartered in Arizona's Paradise Valley, a mountain town east of the capital Phoenix. Advertisement 7 Peterson, who joined The Daily Wire in 2022 after returning to public life, has been noticeably diminished and agitated in recent appearances — including a debate in May against 20 atheists for YouTube channel Jubilee. Jordan B Peterson / YouTube Peterson and his family have reportedly purchased more than $50 million worth of Paradise Valley real estate in the past few years, including a $30 million estate previously owned by billionaire Alex Meruelo, the former owner of the Arizona Coyotes National Hockey League (NHL) team, according to local news outlet KTAR. Peterson started his career at Harvard University before returning to his native Canada to take up a position as a professor at the University of Toronto in 1998. He shot to global fame in late 2016 after posting a series of videos criticising a proposed Canadian law, Bill C-16 — which made it illegal to refuse to refer to a transgender person by their preferred 'gender pronoun'. Advertisement His videos quickly went viral, coming just months before the 2016 US election of Donald Trump at a time when the global culture wars were going into overdrive. 7 Peterson in Amsterdam, on Oct. 31, 2018. NurPhoto via Getty Images Peterson's YouTube lectures and appearances on popular podcasts like 'The Joe Rogan Experience' drew huge audiences. He released his global best-selling self-help book, '12 Rules for Life,' in 2018 and embarked on a global tour, including Australia. But the rock star psychologist's life spectacularly fell apart shortly after his Australia tour in February 2019. He all but disappeared from public life, with his lengthy absence sparking a flurry of speculation. In September 2019, Mikhaila posted a confronting YouTube update revealing her father had been checked into rehab in New York seeking to get off the anti-anxiety drug clonazepam, saying he had begun taking the addictive medication to deal with stress from his wife's battle with cancer. 7 Peterson on his Daily Wire show 'Answer the Call.' Jordan B Peterson / YouTube Things took an even darker turn in early 2020, when Peterson sought alternative treatment for benzodiazepine dependence in a Russian hospital after what Mikhaila claimed was repeated misdiagnosis in North American hospitals. While in Moscow, Peterson came down with pneumonia and was put into an induced coma for eight days. He returned to Canada in October 2020, telling YouTube viewers he hoped to 'return to something resembling a normal life.' Late last year, he announced that he had fled Canada for the US, claiming that impending hate speech legislation, bill C-63, threatened to turn the country into a 'totalitarian hellhole.' Speaking on his daughter's podcast, Peterson said an ongoing feud with the College of Psychologists of Ontario had also prompted the move. The professional body had threatened to pull his practising license if he did not complete a social media re-education training course. Peterson had challenged the order, but Canada's Supreme Court dismissed his appeal against the college's decision last August.
Business Upturn
13 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Liquid I.V. Debuts Innovative New Sugar-Free Hydration Multiplier in Canada
TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Liquid I.V., the number one selling powdered hydration brand in Canada1 announced the expansion of their product portfolio with the launch of the new Sugar-Free Hydration Multiplier. Available in the delicious and refreshing White Peach flavour, this launch marks Liquid I.V.'s most significant innovation in the market to date and is the brand's first sugar-free offering for Canadians. 'Sugar-free marks a bold step forward for Liquid I.V., cementing our place not only as leaders but innovators of hydration solutions,' said Anusha Babbar, Senior Vice President of International, Unilever Wellbeing. 'Canadians have shown great love to Liquid I.V. these past two years in market, so we're thrilled to be expanding our Canadian offering in the wellness category to meet their demands for a sugar-free option.' Liquid I.V. entered Canada in 2023, marking its first expansion beyond the U.S., and quickly established itself as a leading provider of powdered hydration. Yet, fans of the electrolyte beverage have been vocal about the need for a sugar-free option to meet their lifestyle needs. Today, Liquid I.V. responds to the demand with a first-of-its-kind formula that is scientifically formulated to restore electrolyte imbalances that occur through performance, heat, travel and adventure, without the sugar. 'Sugar is often used as a key ingredient in electrolyte beverages for hydration support. We clinically tested countless sugar-free formulations to ensure that we weren't just ticking a box, but creating a formula backed by science that truly supported functional hydration,' said Lori Lauersen, Senior Vice President R&D, Unilever Wellbeing. 'What we developed was an amino acid blend available in our Sugar-Free Hydration Multiplier, all delivered within a delightful peach flavoured beverage.' Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free White Peach Hydration Multiplier delivers smart 0 sugar hydration that supports consumers in maintaining their wellness goals. It contains: 0g sugar 6 essential vitamins and minerals Blend of amino acids No artificial flavours or colours 100% + daily value of essential B vitamins (B3, B5, B12) To enjoy, simply pour one easy-to-open packet into 500ml of water, mix or shake, and hydrate. Its convenient single-serve, travel-friendly packets are easy to enjoy on the go. Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free White Peach is currently available at Costco Canada and will be available on later this month. About Liquid I.V.® Liquid I.V.® is a wellness company based in Los Angeles, CA. We believe hydration is the bedrock of wellness so our products are designed to deliver hydration and additional benefits with delicious flavour. The product line features great-tasting, non-GMO electrolyte drink mixes for enhanced hydration. As a purpose-driven brand, giving back is at the core of Liquid I.V.'s DNA, to date we've donated over 71 million servings to people in need around the globe. Liquid I.V.® contributes over 1% of brand revenue to our Impact Program focused on Clean Water Access & Hydration Aid. Liquid I.V.® provides grants to organizations that expand clean water access. We are committed to our goal of donating 150 million Liquid I.V.® sticks over the next 10 years. Liquid I.V. is available in-store at Costco, Walmart, and other national retailers, and online on To learn more, visit and follow @liquidivcanada on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. For more information, please contact:Amanda FederchukKetchum, on behalf of Liquid I.V. [email protected] 416-505-0517
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Abell Pest Control Marks World Honey Bee Day with New Support for Canadian Bee Gut Research at University of Guelph
Toronto, Ontario, Aug. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ahead of World Honey Bee Day on August 16, Abell Pest Control is strengthening its commitment to pollinator health by supporting the Canadian Bee Gut Research Project at the University of Guelph. The new funding will enable an undergraduate student to contribute to this critical research, which focuses on the health of honey bees, pollinators vital to global food security and ecosystem balance. This initiative builds on Abell's ongoing investment in the next generation of scientists working to protect pollinators. Led by Dr. Brendan Daisley, the Canadian Bee Gut Research Project is exploring the role of the bee microbiome in disease resistance and overall colony health. The research team is developing probiotic treatments to support bees' natural gut bacteria, helping them fight off infections without relying on antibiotics, whose use has declined globally due to concerns around antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 'We thought reducing antibiotics would improve bee health, but without strong alternatives, bees became more vulnerable to disease,' said Dr. Daisley. 'Our goal is to strengthen bees from the inside out, using natural, targeted treatments that support long-term colony survival.' A recent University of Guelph study published in Nature Sustainability analyzed over 700,000 honey bee colonies per year between 2015 and 2023. It found that winter colony losses more than doubled over that period. The study also identified nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), a common air pollutant, as a possible factor in disrupting bees' ability to locate flowers, further compounding threats to their survival. Abell Pest Control's donation will help advance this vital work, which sits at the intersection of pollinator health, environmental sustainability, and global food security. 'Honey bees are essential to our environment and food systems, and their survival is under serious threat,' said Brett MacKillop, President, Abell Pest Control. 'Our support for the Canadian Bee Gut Research Project reflects our deep belief that responsible pest management means protecting pollinators and working with nature, not against it.' As World Honey Bee Day highlights the importance of pollinators, Abell's renewed investment in Canadian-led research underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions to ensure a healthy future for bees and us all. A Longstanding Commitment to Bee Health Abell's partnership with the University of Guelph goes well beyond a single donation. Since 2017, the company has contributed over $50,000 to fund the Abell Pest Control Scholarship in Pollinator Research, supporting full-time students dedicated to innovative work that protects pollinators, particularly bees. 'World Honey Bee Day is the perfect opportunity to reflect on how much we rely on natural systems and how we can all play a part in protecting them,' said MacKillop. 'We're proud to support the University of Guelph's incredible work and to be part of the solution.' How You Can Help Bees This World Honey Bee Day: Plant native wildflowers that support local pollinators Avoid using pesticides on blooming plants Leave out shallow dishes of clean water for bees and butterflies Buy Canadian honey and support local beekeepers Consider donating to support bees. About Abell Pest Control: Founded in 1924, Abell Pest Control is a proudly Canadian-owned and operated company that has been providing trusted pest management services across the country. With a long history of protecting customers and their patrons, Abell is committed to delivering exceptional service to both homes and businesses nationwide, available 24/7. Committed to innovation, Abell Pest Control offers cutting-edge technology-driven solutions for pest prevention and management, ensuring the highest standards of service. Abell values partnerships and is dedicated to giving back to the industries it serves, maintaining a strong network of alliances to support its customers better. Learn more about Abell by visiting Bee 'cause we Care or following them on social media for pest control tips on Facebook and Instagram. CONTACT: Eliana Pasquariello Abell Pest Control epasquariello@
