Pharmacare – A National Prescription Drugs Strategy

Posted by Steve Jones

Wed, Oct 8, 2014

Does Canada Need A Prescription Drug Strategy?

The word “Pharmacare” automatically sends the political right and left to their respective corners for a predictable battle of ideologies. Most people automatically assume that “Pharmacare” means a government run prescription insurance plan. Let’s just call it a “Prescription Drug Strategy” and start a dialogue with open minds about improving one aspect of our healthcare system.

This Canadian Press article published by the CBC points out that a national policy could cover a wide variety of scenarios including bulk drug buying, tendering for generic drugs, collaboration between government and business insurance plans or collaboration between the provinces.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/pharmacare-national-prescription-drug-program-gains-support-1.2788351

According to the Canadian Press and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development:

• Estimated 10% of Canadians are unable to fill prescriptions because of the expense
• Canada has the second highest per capita spending on prescription drugs in the OECD
• The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions says we could save $11.4 billion a year in lower drugs costs

https://www.scribd.com/doc/241841507/Call-growing-louder-for-national-prescription-drug-plan

Call growing louder for national prescription drug plan by TheCanadianPress