The Liberal government of Canada introduced the new Pharmacare Act, which will break ground in one small piece to form a more comprehensive national program. It is designed to eventually guarantee no-cost essential diabetes and contraceptive medicines for all potentially relieving millions of people nationwide the financial stress. The measures will help the 3.7 million Canadians living with diabetes and an estimated nine million women and gender-diverse people who use contraceptives. The exemption of paying anything in advance will remove a great obstacle in front for moneyless healthcare and seek to encourage it, while advancing health equity. The Act introduces a national drug purchasing strategy to be developed by Canada’s Drug Agency, which will enable long-term savings. This approach is based mainly on cost-saving through bulk purchasing of medicines and the creation of an expert committee to develop a core list of medications that should be covered in future. The Act also facilitates expansion of the pharmacare system in Canada as federal and provincial agreements gradually expand what drugs are covered over time.
Benefits of the Pharmacare Act
Financial Relief: designed to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs for necessary medications, enabling Canadians access to life-saving prescriptions without sacrificing other basic needs.
Health Equity: this act ensures that everyone especially those with no or little access to health care has an equal opportunity by allowing free use of diabetes and contraceptive medicines.
Preventative Healthcare: proposals within this legislation highlight the significance of preventative healthcare which goes a long way in reducing the pressure on hospitals with costly complications and hospitalizations avoided in their entirety if properly addressed.
Additional Access: the Act includes provisions to expand the list of covered medications over time, ensuring that essential drugs are continuously updated to meet evolving health needs both now and in the future.
Coordinated Roll-Out: as provinces and territories with the program, this Act enforces a universal, comprehensive pharmacare system; one that is consistent with Canada’s dedication to Universal Healthcare. By passing the Pharmacare Act, Canada has taken a monumental step toward universal pharmacare – in turn making better on its promise of total health coverage. With the signing of additional agreements at a provincial level, it is one that stands to grow and potentially shift attitudes not only toward those in greatest need, but also towards ensuring health for all Canadians.
(Sources)
https://globalnews.ca/news/10807237/canada-pharmacare-plan-what-to-know/
