Ottawa aims to launch the program in April
(Ottawa) Federal Health Minister Mark Holland hopes to launch the national pharmacare programby April 1, 2025.
The bill, drafted by the Liberals and New Democrats, was passed by the House of Commons earlier in June,
but still needs to be studied by the Senate.
The goal is to provide coverage for certain contraceptives and diabetes medications to anyone with a health card,
as part of a universal, single-payer program.
Provinces such as British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, which already cover many of the drugs that will be available, have expressed enthusiasm for Ottawa's proposed program.
But Alberta and Quebec want to opt out of the federal pharmacare program and are instead asking for equivalent funding.
The Liberals have budgeted $1.5 billion over five years for this initiative.
"My goal is to have these drugs start circulating in every province and territoryby April 1 of next year. So I say to senators: I appreciate your procedure, I understand that the process has to be rigorous, but I ask you to be as quick as possible," said Mr. Holland.
Once the bill receives Royal Assent, the Minister of Health will be able to begin negotiating agreements with the provinces and territories on how to manage the program.
But he says he won't wait for this approval to begin discussions with his provincial and territorial counterparts.
The bill that senators are about to consider also sets out the principles that would guide a future full-fledged, universal, single-payer pharmacare program.
It sets a one-year deadline to create a national formulary of essential medicines and to begin discussions with the provinces on expanding the drugs provided under pharmacare.
The Canadian Drug Agency also has one year to develop a bulk drug purchasing strategy to reduce the cost of bulk drugs.
Senators have already considered the bill at second reading, but have yet to study it in committee. However,
no meeting is planned for the moment.
The bill, drafted by the Liberals and New Democrats, was passed by the House of Commons earlier in June,
but still needs to be studied by the Senate.
The goal is to provide coverage for certain contraceptives and diabetes medications to anyone with a health card,
as part of a universal, single-payer program.
Provinces such as British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, which already cover many of the drugs that will be available, have expressed enthusiasm for Ottawa's proposed program.
But Alberta and Quebec want to opt out of the federal pharmacare program and are instead asking for equivalent funding.
The Liberals have budgeted $1.5 billion over five years for this initiative.
"My goal is to have these drugs start circulating in every province and territoryby April 1 of next year. So I say to senators: I appreciate your procedure, I understand that the process has to be rigorous, but I ask you to be as quick as possible," said Mr. Holland.
Once the bill receives Royal Assent, the Minister of Health will be able to begin negotiating agreements with the provinces and territories on how to manage the program.
But he says he won't wait for this approval to begin discussions with his provincial and territorial counterparts.
The bill that senators are about to consider also sets out the principles that would guide a future full-fledged, universal, single-payer pharmacare program.
It sets a one-year deadline to create a national formulary of essential medicines and to begin discussions with the provinces on expanding the drugs provided under pharmacare.
The Canadian Drug Agency also has one year to develop a bulk drug purchasing strategy to reduce the cost of bulk drugs.
Senators have already considered the bill at second reading, but have yet to study it in committee. However,
no meeting is planned for the moment.
