A BC organization advocating for universal, public pharmacare, AccessBC, is calling on the newly elected prime minister to commit to expanding Canada’s pharmacare legislation.
AccessBC is a grassroots group that succeeded in advocating for free prescription contraception in BC, and now works to see the same thing accomplished in other provinces and territories.
Last year, the Canada Pharmacare Act (Bill C-64) was passed, with initial coverage of contraceptives and diabetes medications.
However, Access BC Chair and Co-founder Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff says this should just be viewed as a first step.
“But a first step is not enough,” said Dr. Phelps Bondaroff in a letter to Prime Minister Carney.
“For too long, people in this country have been forced to ration medications, go without essential drugs, or choose between their prescriptions and paying rent.”
British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Yukon have all already signed on to pharmacare’s initial phase, and AccessBC says the federal government’s next step should be to bring the remaining provinces and territories onboard.
“This must be a top priority – and must be explicitly included in the mandate letter of the incoming Minister of Health – to ensure all Canadians are able to access the life-saving and life-changing medication covered by this first phase of pharmacare,” wrote Dr. Phelps Bondaroff.
AccessBC’s is now calling on Prime Minister Carney and his Liberal government to quickly and decisively:
- See that all provinces and territories embrace the initial phase of pharmacare which covers diabetes medication and contraceptives
- Expand the pharmacare plan to include medications for rare diseases
- Commit to universal prescription coverage as the end goal of Canada’s pharmacare plan
“This is not just about policy. It is about justice, affordability, equity, and health as a human right,” said Dr. Phelps Bondaroff.
“In a country where wealth, gender, race, disability, location, or immigration status still determine access to essential medicine, incrementalism is not acceptable.”
Throughout the recent campaign trail, Carney was careful not to make any commitments regarding Canada’s pharmacare and dental coverage, aside from promising to preserve it.
Days before the election was called, former health minister Kamal Khera said that if re-elected, Carney would try to bring into the fold the nine provinces and territories that have not signed onto the pharmacare legislation.
In order to be a part of the free contraceptive and diabetes medication, provinces and territories do not have to pay any money into the program—they simply sign on and receive federal funding to help their residents receive these free medications.
Since winning the election, Carney’s focus has been primarily on mending relations with the US, assembling a new cabinet and preparing for Parliament to return to session on May 26th.
