Ottawa still wants to move forward
(Montreal) Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland introduced the first phase of national pharmacare in Toronto on Saturday, which will include coverage for contraceptives and prescription diabetes medications.
Minister Freeland held a news conference at a pharmacy in downtown Queen City, alongside Ya'ara Saks,
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
The details released Saturday come after a bill was tabled last February on a national, universal pharmacare program, resulting from an agreement with the New Democratic Party (NDP). The government had previously announced that it would provide universal, single-payer coverage for a range of contraceptives and diabetes drugs through agreements with the provinces.
"Women should be able to make their own choices about their health and their bodies. Our plan to make the most common contraceptives, such as birth control pills and IUDs, and even emergency oral contraceptives, free of charge, will give nine million Canadian women freedom of choice," Freeland said in a statement.
This freedom must be priceless.
Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance, in a statement
The pharmacare program will be included in the federal government's 2024 budget, which will be tabled on April 16.
In addition to the initial formulary, the bill sets out several next steps and timelines to move
the government towards a broader pharmacare plan.
In his February 29 press briefing, federal Health Minister Mark Holland indicated that Bill C-64 would make funding conditional on the signing of bilateral agreements that expand existing coverage under a public drug plan.
The government also announced that it would not provide full compensation if provinces
or territories decided to opt out of national pharmacare.
The Government of Quebec has already indicated that it will defend its constitutional jurisdictions.
Minister Freeland held a news conference at a pharmacy in downtown Queen City, alongside Ya'ara Saks,
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
The details released Saturday come after a bill was tabled last February on a national, universal pharmacare program, resulting from an agreement with the New Democratic Party (NDP). The government had previously announced that it would provide universal, single-payer coverage for a range of contraceptives and diabetes drugs through agreements with the provinces.
"Women should be able to make their own choices about their health and their bodies. Our plan to make the most common contraceptives, such as birth control pills and IUDs, and even emergency oral contraceptives, free of charge, will give nine million Canadian women freedom of choice," Freeland said in a statement.
This freedom must be priceless.
Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance, in a statement
The pharmacare program will be included in the federal government's 2024 budget, which will be tabled on April 16.
In addition to the initial formulary, the bill sets out several next steps and timelines to move
the government towards a broader pharmacare plan.
In his February 29 press briefing, federal Health Minister Mark Holland indicated that Bill C-64 would make funding conditional on the signing of bilateral agreements that expand existing coverage under a public drug plan.
The government also announced that it would not provide full compensation if provinces
or territories decided to opt out of national pharmacare.
The Government of Quebec has already indicated that it will defend its constitutional jurisdictions.
