Latest news with #PharmacareAct
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pharmacare is now law in Canada, but negotiations with provinces could slow progress
Despite Canada's commitment to universal health care, one in 20 Canadians cannot afford their prescribed medications, with people from Alberta, New Brunswick and British Columbia being the most likely to say they're missing doses due to costs. When people skip medications, it leads to more emergency room visits, costly hospital stays and worse health. Ensuring people have coverage for essential medications is crucial. In October 2024, Canada took a step forward when Bill C-64, or the Pharmacare Act, received royal assent and became law. The act will cover contraceptives for nine million Canadians, helping with family planning and managing conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. Read more: It will also cover diabetes medications for the 3.7 million Canadians living with the disease — critical for managing blood sugars and preventing complications like blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks and strokes. Despite this historic passage of pharmacare legislation, its rollout remains uncertain. The government's next steps are complicated by the Constitution Act of 1867, which gave provinces jurisdiction over health care. The federal government must now negotiate agreements with each province to implement the plan — a task made more difficult because medication coverage varies widely across Canada. Without full co-operation, pharmacare's impact could be limited, with coverage gaps persisting for millions of Canadians. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has also said he'll scrap pharmacare. In many provinces — including B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador — pharmacare coverage is provided universally with income-based deductibles. This means provincial coverage only kicks in after an individual reaches a spending threshold on medications. This threshold varies by age and income level. Alberta and New Brunswick use premium-based systems, requiring monthly membership fees. Most provinces also use co-payments, meaning people must cover part of the cost of each prescription — for example, 20 to 30 per cent of the full cost, or a flat fee of $5 to $10. Only Québec mandates prescription insurance coverage, either privately or through its public plan. Currently, a major driver of how much Canadians pay for their medications is arbitrary — it's about where one lives. For example, a young Albertan living with diabetes and heart disease who earns $14,000 would need to pay $1,000 annually for medications. In Ontario, that same person would pay just $100. Such differences can influence where people choose to live and can hinder interprovincial labour mobility. It's a driving force behind the push for pharmacare — to ensure free access to the most important medications, regardless of where someone lives. Pharmacare could have been implemented nationally, like it was for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, offering federal coverage for essential medications like contraceptives and diabetes medications, while insurers and provincial plans cover the rest. This would have been a simple approach that would have allowed for future changes, and could have been implemented by provinces much like vaccines are — paid for using people's provincial health numbers, sidestepping the difficulty of enrolling people in a new plan. But in the waning days of the current Liberal federal government, it appears the chosen direction has been to negotiate separate agreements with each province and territory to establish a minimum standard. Movement in this direction has already been seen in B.C., Manitoba and P.E.I. where deals have already been made with the federal government, while other provinces remain in talks. The pace of these agreements remains uncertain, and it's unclear when — or if — all the provinces and territories will sign on. As Canada takes its first steps toward pharmacare, many questions remain. For provinces with income-based deductibles, would the deductible simply shift to other drugs, meaning people with other health conditions won't really save on their overall medication costs each year? For those with premium-based coverage, how would those who don't enrol in the public plan access coverage? How would this be rolled out in Québec where some form of medication coverage is already mandatory? The push for universal drug coverage in Canada dates back decades. When medicare was first recommended in 1964 by the Hall Commission, it included a proposal for universal drug coverage that was ultimately never implemented. Over the decades, multiple reports, including the 1999 Kirby Report and the 2019 Pharmacare For All Report, have called for its implementation. Organizations like the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Nursing Association have similarly stressed its importance. Yet, despite decades of advocacy, Canada has remained the only country with a universal health-care system that doesn't provide comprehensive drug coverage. With negotiations on pharmacare officially underway, its success will depend on federal-provincial co-operation, which has been increasingly strained in recent years. Advancing pharmacare is in Canadians' best interest — especially for the 7.5 million people who cannot afford the medications their doctor prescribes. The question now is whether governments will act swiftly to implement pharmacare, or if political roadblocks will delay access to life-saving medications even further. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organisation bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Jane Fletcher, University of Calgary; Braden Manns, University of Calgary; David Campbell, University of Calgary, and Reed F Beall, University of Calgary Read more: Why access to free prescription contraception is a crucial component of a national pharmacare program for Canada With a pharmacare bill on the horizon, Big Pharma's attack on single-payer drug coverage for Canadians needs a fact check Without pharmacare, Canadians with disabilities rationing drugs due to high prescription costs Jane Fletcher receives funding from CANTRAIN (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) and Alberta Innovates. David Campbell receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Diabetes Canada, and Alberta Innovates. Braden Manns and Reed F Beall do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
CBC
21-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Yukon's $9.5M pharmacare deal will cover birth control, diabetes medication
The Yukon and federal governments have signed off on a deal that will provide universal access to birth control and diabetes medications for Yukoners. The pharmacare agreement, announced on Thursday, will see $9.5 million spent over four years. It will provide public coverage of contraceptives and diabetes medications, as well as improve access to diabetes devices and supplies. "This will support the reproductive freedom of more than 12,000 Yukoners and make sure that over 3,000 residents with diabetes can access essential medications," reads a joint news release from the federal and territorial governments. The coverage will begin for Yukoners sometime "not later than January 2026," the release states. The deal with Yukon follows from the federal Pharmacare Act, which was passed last fall. The legislation allows the government to strike deals with provinces and territories to cover diabetes and birth-control medications as part of the public health system. Yukon is the fourth jurisdiction to reach a pharmacare agreement with Canada, after Manitoba, B.C. and P.E.I. signed their own deals in recent weeks. Earlier this week, the executive director of the Yukon Status of Women Council told CBC News that universal access to contraceptives was "an unmet need" in the territory.
Politico
28-01-2025
- Health
- Politico
Deal or No Deal
Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Playbook | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading the Ottawa Playbook. Let's get to it. On POLITICO Canada's agenda today: →.The NDP insists the band is not getting back together. → MARIE-JOSÉE HOGUE is poised to unveil her final report. → Nomination watch. PLAYBOOK'S ONE-ON-ONE DRIFTING APART — With the Liberal leadership underway, one of many questions for when the House returns — if the House returns — at the end of March, concerns the status of the ongoing dance between New Democrats and the minority government. Will New Democratic Party Leader JAGMEET SINGH find a new friend in the new Liberal leader and next PM? Or will he make good on his latest promise to bring down the Liberal government at first opportunity? Playbook looked into the status of pharmacare — the NDP's political baby — to get a sense of the state of play. — High-stakes moment: The window for Ottawa to usher in the first phase of national pharmacare — free birth control and diabetes medicine to anyone with a health card — is up against the threat of a federal election. The Pharmacare Act passed in October with C$1.5 billion in the latest budget allocated to the program over five years. Since health care falls within provincial and territorial jurisdiction, Ottawa must forge a national program from bilateral deals. Once a province signs on, the feds will deliver money to cover the costs of contraception, diabetes medications and supplies. Now, with opposition parties promising to vote non-confidence as early as March, the program is in jeopardy. — Plus: The Conservatives, who are currently expected to form the next government, have yet to share their thinking on pharmacare or the Canadian Dental Care Plan. — No more deals: NDP health critic PETER JULIAN says work to cement deals and get provinces on side can be done right now. He insists the NDP is done supporting the Liberal government — no matter who ends up at the helm. — What if?: What if the new leader promises to expand pharmacare beyond free contraceptives and diabetes medications — or to add more money to the pot in the next federal budget? 'No,' Julian said. 'Everything is in place, so there's no excuse. Get it done.' — The party that cried wolf: Even after the New Democrats 'ripped up' its supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals last September, it continued to side with the Liberals on confidence votes. The party helped pass the government's 'GST holiday' and supplementary estimates, which included new money for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. — For real now, seriously: Julian points to pharmacare to underline why Singh really means it when he says the party is done with the Liberals. '[He] has been very clear numerous times about this,' Julian said. 'It's the difference between rhetoric and reality. The rhetoric was, 'Let's get all these things done.' We see a hesitation even with putting pharmacare in place.' — Let's make a deal: The office of Health Minister MARK HOLLAND says the government is looking forward to 'signing agreements soon.' The minister and Health Canada officials have been in direct contact with every province and territory, Holland's office said. British Columbia has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Liberal government that states they will work toward a pharmacare agreement, but it has yet to reach a formal deal. New Brunswick Premier SUSAN HOLT told Playbook her Liberal government and Ottawa counterparts are 'motivated' to move quickly. Holland visited Holt's province in mid-January to discuss details. 'It would be great if we could come to an agreement and get something signed and firmed up before an election,' Holt said on Jan. 15. Where the leaders are — Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will travel to Warsaw, Poland. He'll meet Prime Minister DONALD TUSK and sign the Canada-Poland Nuclear Energy Cooperation Agreement. — Playbook has no line of sight into itineraries for Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE or Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET. — NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH is in Burnaby, B.C., where he will speak to media about the findings in Canada's foreign interference commission's report. Later in the day he will meet with B.C. Premier DAVID EBY. — Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY is in Ottawa and will review documents from the public inquiry into foreign interference. She will be speak to media later in the day. DULY NOTED Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY is heading to Washington on Wednesday to meet with U.S. Secretary of State MARCO RUBIO. Top priority is to prevent tariffs, she told reporters on Parliament Hill Monday afternoon. 'We're working at it every day now.' 8 a.m. Industry Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE will be in Guelph today to make an EV battery announcement with VIC FEDELI, Ontario's minister of economic development, job creation and trade. 11:45 a.m. Commissioner MARIE-JOSÉE HOGUE will release the final report in her inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes. For your radar HOGUE DAY — Nearly two years after the House of Commons first called for a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's elections, MARIE-JOSÉE HOGUE will unveil her final report — the culmination of more than a year of hearings and deliberation. — Drop time: 11:45 a.m., following a morning media lock-up. — The elephants in the room: A pile of reporters, national security experts, opposition politicians and lawyers — oh, so many lawyers — will scan Hogue's report for any reference to unnamed parliamentarians mentioned in a 2024 report as 'semi-witting or witting' participants in foreign interference efforts. → Fishbowl obsession: Last year, a bombshell report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians cited 'troubling intelligence' implicating 'some' lawmakers in interference. Party leaders cleared to read the unredacted report shared differing interpretations. The names have never been released. — What to watch: Playbook turned to WESLEY WARK, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, for his national security expert lens on Hogue's report. → Electoral integrity: 'The commissioner needs to reaffirm the conclusions from her initial report in May that the federal elections in 2019 and 2021 were targeted by foreign interference but the results were not affected,' Wark wrote to us. → Deterrence: Hogue's report is expected to advise on how to handle threats and protect diaspora communities. Wark hopes for 'better intelligence reporting, better sharing of intelligence and a stronger leadership role for the national security and intelligence adviser and the countering foreign interference coordinator at Public Safety Canada.' → Disinfo watch: 'Canada will need a stronger capacity to detect and respond to disinformation efforts by foreign states and their proxies. These efforts often take aim specifically at diaspora communities. This means more resources, more efforts at public education, and a heightened willingness to call out such activities.' NOMINATION WATCH As a federal election nears, we're tracking the number of nominated candidates in each major party — and noting significant names as they emerge. A full slate is 343 candidates. Last week's numbers are in parentheses. — Conservative: n/a* (225) — Liberal: 135 (130) — NDP: 106 (106) — Green: 75 (60) — Bloc Québécois: 2 (2) → Worth noting: We didn't hear from the Conservatives this week. We expect more news from the Bloc on Feb. 8. New Democrats expect to hit 114 candidates 'within the next few days.' The Liberal Party had this to say: 'Well over 100 Canadians have reached out to run for us in the next general election this month.' MEDIA ROOM — The Globe BOB FIFE and STEVE CHASE report that Ottawa is planning pandemic-level relief for workers, businesses if Trump imposes tariffs. — TREVOR TOMBE joined 'The Herle Burly' to explore some timely questions: 'What the hell is about to happen to the Canadian economy? What's going to hurt? And how can we help ourselves?' — Top of POLITICO: Trump administration orders sweeping freeze of federal aid. — POLITICO's NAHAL TOOSI, ROBBIE GRAMER and CARMEN PAUN report: The Trump administration's sudden halt on U.S. foreign aid is causing chaos inside groups ranging from health providers to landmine removers. — JESSICA DAVIS, LEAH WEST and STEPHANIE CARVIN launched 'Secure Line,' a podcast on security and intelligence in Canada. Inaugural guests: JUSTIN LING and THOMAS JUNEAU. — Liberal leadership candidate KARINA GOULD is on CBC's Front Burner pod this morning. — The Star's MARK RAMZY tells the story of JONATHAN PEDNEAULT's renewed bid to co-lead the Green Party. — On his latest Substack post, IAN BRODIE plays out a scenario in which PIERRE POILIEVRE 'could start his path to greatness at the G7 in June.' — The Logic's CATHERINE MCINTYRE, LAURA OSMAN and MURAD HEMMADI dig beneath the surface: Inside Canadian tech's not-so-quiet shift to the right. PROZONE For Pro subscribers, our latest policy newsletter by MIKE BLANCHFIELD. From JOSEPH BAMBRIDGE in London: Trump's war on tech taxes is a big problem for Britain and its digital services tax. In other news for Pro readers: — Trump's beef with the World Health Organization is personal. — How a Chinese startup could rock Trump's stock market. — Fact-checkers under fire as Big Tech pulls back. — UK climate chief Ed Miliband is fighting a losing battle. — Trump boosts political control over top-tier federal workers. PLAYBOOKERS Birthdays: Bonne fête to Bloc Québécois MP STÉPHANE BERGERON (60!) and HBD to former Alberta MLA DAVE QUEST. Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way. Spotted: Journo CHRIS NARDI, stocked up on Deep'n Delicious and ready for the release of the final report from the foreign interference commission. Movers and shakers: Bloc Québécois MP KRISTINA MICHAUD, who is expecting her first child, announced she wouldn't run in the next campaign. MIKE MCNAIR is leaving the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. For now, the former policy director to JUSTIN TRUDEAU will 'operate as a free agent with a private advisory practice until I decide what's next.' Media mentions: ABIGAIL BIMMAN is joining CTV News' Ottawa bureau. TRIVIA TRIVIA CUP — We kicked off the Second Annual POLITICO Canada Trivia Cup at the Métropolitain on Monday night. First up: lobbyists. POLITICO contributor and 338Canada polling analyst PHILIPPE J. FOURNIER joined us as guest quizmaster, serving up five election-focused stumpers. The top four teams advanced to the championship round on June 2: #TEAMVANTAGE (25 points out of 30), TEAM LIMITED HOSPITALITY (22), CRESTVIEW STRATEGY (22) and CLERKS OF THE TRIVY COUNCIL (21). — Next up: Diplomat night on Feb. 10. Monday's answer: JOHN LENNON recorded 'Instant Karma.' Props to SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, PATRICK DION, RAY DEL BIANCO, DANIEL BOSLEY, GREG MACEACHERN, LAURA JARVIS, DARRYL DAMUDE,ROBERT MCDOUGALL, NOEL KEVIN BREEN, MALCOLM MCKAY, MARCEL MARCOTTE and BILL WATSON. Today's question: Which U.S. president once said Canada would fall like 'easy prey.' Answers to ottawaplaybook@ . Wednesday's Playbook will be written by NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY. Want to grab the attention of movers and shakers on Parliament Hill? Want your brand in front of a key audience of Ottawa influencers? Run a Playbook ad campaign. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@ Playbook wouldn't happen without: POLITICO Canada editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and Luiza Ch. Savage.
