Pharmacare Explained

Pharmacare is a Canadian proposal for a publicly funded insurance program for medications,^[1] similar to Medicare for health insurance. Limited pharmacare programs exist in the provinces of Ontario,^[2] Manitoba,^[3] and British Columbia.^[4] Multiple organizers and commenters have advocated a pan-Canadian pharmacare program to complement the existing health system, but the precise model for implementation is unclear.^{[5] [6] [7]}

In 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to implement pharmacare if re-elected.^{[8] [9]} In February 2024, the NDP and Liberals reached an agreement on proposed draft legislation for a pharmacare program.^[10] The proposed program would create a single-payer system to cover expenses for contraceptives and diabetes medication in the first phase, with a designated budget of $1.5 billion. Subsequent phases would develop a national formulary and national purchasing plan, at an estimated cost of $38.9 billion for the 2027/28 fiscal year.^[11] The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) was revamped into Canada's Drug Agency, tasked with creating a formulary and a national purchasing plan.^[12]

See also

• Canadian Dental Care Plan
• Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance
• Canada's Drug Agency

External links

• A Prescription for Canada: Achieving Pharmacare for All - Final Report of the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare. Canada.ca.
• Pharmacare 2020

Notes and References

1. https://www.pharmacists.ca/advocacy/pharmacare-20/ Pharmacare
2. Steve Paikin (5 January 2018). Is 'OHIP+' really the best option for free prescription drug coverage in Ontario?. TVO.
3. https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/pharmacare/general.html General Pharmacare Questions
4. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents PharmaCare for BC Residents
5. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)32324-4 Canada needs universal pharmacare
6. https://www.cshp.ca/national-pharmacare-program National Pharmacare Program
7. Kyle Duggan (9 March 2018). A rough guide to Canada's looming pharmacare debate. iPolitics.
8. https://nowtoronto.com/news/throne-speech-pharmacare-justin-trudeau-sarah-cooper Throne Speech's promise of pharmacare rings hollow
9. Hannah Thibedeau (19 October 2019). Liberals aren't setting aside enough cash yet for pharmacare, says advisory panel chair. CBC.
10. Aaron Wherry (23 February 2024). Liberals and New Democrats reach a deal on pharmacare. CBC News.
11. Justin Fiacconi (26 April 2024). Ottawa says pharmacare is coming — here's what you need to know. CBC News.
12. https://www.cadth.ca/news/cadth-now-canadas-drug-agency CADTH is now Canada's Drug Agency