The Path to Universal Pharmacare in Canada

Introduction

Universal pharmacare is a critical step towards ensuring that all Canadians have access to the medications they need to live healthy lives. The Pharmacare Act (Bill C-35), currently before Parliament, would establish a national pharmacare program that would cover the cost of prescription drugs for all Canadians. This is an important and necessary step that would improve the health and well-being of Canadians.

The Need for Universal Pharmacare

The high cost of prescription drugs is a major barrier to access for many Canadians. In 2019, Canadians spent an average of $1,200 on prescription drugs out-of-pocket. For many families, this is a significant financial burden that can make it difficult to afford other necessities, such as food and housing.

The lack of access to affordable prescription drugs has a number of negative consequences for Canadians. For example, people who cannot afford their medications may be forced to skip doses or take less than the prescribed amount. This can lead to serious health problems, including hospitalization and even death.

Universal pharmacare would eliminate the financial barrier to access for prescription drugs. This would ensure that all Canadians have access to the medications they need to stay healthy.

The Benefits of Universal Pharmacare

Universal pharmacare would have a number of benefits for Canadians, including:

• Improved health outcomes: Universal pharmacare would improve the health outcomes of Canadians by ensuring that everyone has access to the medications they need. This would lead to a reduction in hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and deaths.
• Reduced financial burden: Universal pharmacare would reduce the financial burden on Canadians by eliminating the cost of prescription drugs. This would free up money that families could use for other necessities, such as food and housing.
• Increased productivity: Universal pharmacare would increase the productivity of Canadians by reducing the number of people who are absent from work due to illness. This would lead to a boost in the economy.

The Path to Universal Pharmacare

The Pharmacare Act (Bill C-35) is the first step towards establishing universal pharmacare in Canada. This bill would create a national pharmacare program that would cover the cost of prescription drugs for all Canadians. The program would be funded through a combination of public and private funds.

The Pharmacare Act is currently before Parliament. If passed, it would be the most significant expansion of health care in Canada since the creation of Medicare in 1966.

Why Universal Pharmacare Matters

Universal pharmacare is a matter of fairness. Every Canadian deserves to have access to the medications they need to stay healthy, regardless of their income or postal code.

Universal pharmacare is also a matter of economic sense. By improving the health of Canadians, universal pharmacare would reduce the cost of hospitalization and emergency department visits. This would lead to a boost in the economy.

How to Support Universal Pharmacare

There are a number of things that you can do to support universal pharmacare, including:

• Contact your MP and let them know that you support the Pharmacare Act (Bill C-35).
• Join a campaign organization that is working to promote universal pharmacare.
• Donate to an organization that is working to promote universal pharmacare.

Conclusion

Universal pharmacare is a critical step towards ensuring that all Canadians have access to the medications they need to live healthy lives. The Pharmacare Act (Bill C-35) is a comprehensive plan that would establish a national pharmacare program in Canada. This is an important and necessary step that would improve the health and well-being of Canadians.

Call to Action

Contact your MP and let them know that you support the Pharmacare Act (Bill C-35). You can find your MP's contact information on the Parliament of Canada website.

Stories and Lessons Learned

Story 1:

Sarah is a single mother with two young children. She works full-time as a waitress, but she doesn't have health insurance. One of her children has asthma, and he needs to take a prescription inhaler every day. The inhaler costs $100 per month, and Sarah has to pay for it out-of-pocket. This is a significant financial burden for Sarah, and she often has to choose between paying for her son's medication and putting food on the table.

Lesson: The high cost of prescription drugs is a significant financial burden for many Canadians. Universal pharmacare would eliminate this burden and ensure that all Canadians have access to the medications they need to stay healthy.

Story 2:

John is a retired senior citizen. He takes several medications for chronic conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure. The total cost of his medications is $500 per month. John lives on a fixed income, and he has to budget carefully to make ends meet. He often has to skip doses of his medication to save money.

Lesson: The high cost of prescription drugs is a major barrier to access for many Canadians. Universal pharmacare would reduce the financial burden on Canadians and ensure that all Canadians have access to the medications they need to stay healthy.

Story 3:

Mary is a young woman who works as a nurse. She has a chronic condition that requires her to take a medication that costs $2,000 per month. Mary has health insurance, but her insurance plan only covers 80% of the cost of her medication. Mary has to pay $400 per month out-of-pocket for her medication. This is a significant financial burden for Mary, and she has to work extra hours to make ends meet.

Lesson: Even people who have health insurance can face high out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. Universal pharmacare would eliminate these costs and ensure that all Canadians have access to the medications they need to stay healthy.

Tables

Table 1: The Cost of Prescription Drugs in Canada

Table 2: The Health Benefits of Universal Pharmacare

Table 3: The Economic Benefits of Universal Pharmacare